Lightning Kills 5 people from the same family

Five people from the same family and another have been killed by suspected lightening in Mwansakombe Village in Chief Mwansakombe’s Chiefdom in Chifunabuli District in Luapula Province.

The accident happened last night around 22 hours.

Confirming the accident to ZANIS in Chifunabuli yesterday, Chifunabuli Acting District Commissioner Mulenga Muonga says the six met their fate while sleeping in their grass thatched house.

“I can confirm that a report has been received from Chifunabuli Police to the effect that six people, five from the same family and another male adult only identified as Tembo perished last night after suspected lightening hit and burnt their grass thatched house following some rains which were experienced in the district,” Mr Muonga revealed.

Mr Muonga has further identified the family as Memory Chola 29, together with her four children and a Mr Tembo who is suspected to be the boyfriend to Memory Chola.

“I can identify the family as Memory Chola 29, with her four children Namely; male Musonda Mausala aged nine, female Stevania Mausala aged 7, female Anna Mausala aged four, a male only identified as Musunga aged two, and a male adult only identified as Tembo suspected to be the boyfriend to Memory Chola who were all burnt to death,” he said.

Mr Muonga says the body of the deceased male adult is still laying in Samfya Hospital Mortuary while the relatives of the five have been advised to bury their relatives and mark their graves for possible exhumation as the relatives have refused to do a postmortem.

The Acting District Commissioner has further, revealed that the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit has funded all the costs towards the funeral.

Meanwhile, The five house fire victims who died in an inferno in Chitambo district’s Chalilo Ward in Central Province, have been buried.

Speaking on behalf of Central Province Assistant Secretary Mwape Kasanda yesterday, Acting Chitambo District Commissioner Charles Anderson said the nation is deeply saddened by the loss of five people, all at the same time.

He said the loss has not only affect the family but the district and the nation at large adding that it will be difficult to recover from the huge loss.

And Chalilo Primary School Head Teacher Kelvin Kunda said the situation is even more saddening as three school – going pupils are among the deceased.

“I really cannot exist without pupils and if this is how people were dying, all of us seated here would not be alive. Losing a huge number of people at the same time is devastating,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chalilo Ward Councilor Mabvuto Phiri thanked government through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit for the help rendered since the disaster happened.

“I am 37 years old today and I have never seen such a disaster happen. All those causing such harm should stop because the long arm of the law will soon catch up with you,” he said.

And commenting on the matter, Central Province Deputy Commissioner of Police, Donald Mwandila said officers on the ground are not sleeping on the matter but are working hard to ascertain the cause of the incident and the outcome will definitely be communicated to members of the community.

On Tuesday, 28th September, six members of the same family were victims of a fire after the house they were sleeping in was set on fire by unknown people.

Five of the victims died while a six months old infant is still admitted in Kabwe General Hospital nursing serious wounds.