By Milcah Mathias and Alex Mlanga

Blantyre, January 21, Mana: Fire has claimed the lives of a man and his wife at Che Mussa Market in Blantyre City where the couple had a shop selling among others paint, paraffin and other solvents such as thinners which are highly flammable.

An eye witness, Patrick Makwala, of Che Mussa Market said the accident happened during lunch hour when the wife was preparing lunch.

“It happened when a customer came to purchase thinners. Due to the heat of the charcoal burner, the fire immediately broke out and caught the whole shop which later on claimed their lives,

“We tried to put down the fire using sand and water but to no avail. We only managed to rescue their 20-year-old son, thanks to the firefighters who were passing by and managed to put off the fire,” added Makwala.

Chairperson of Che Mussa Market, Hastings Kabango, described the accident as tragic, saying this had never happened at the market before.

The bodies of the deceased have been taken to Queen Elizabeth Central hospital by police for post-mortem. However, the fire has affected more than 10 other shops which led to damage of property.