Petrol Fire Claims Four Lives in Mangochi District
Published on April 20, 2026 at 8:54 AM by Edgar Naitha
Four people have died, while another is battling for his life at Mangochi District Hospital, after a house in Malembo, Mangochi District, was engulfed in flames caused by ignited petrol.
Monkey Bay Police spokesperson Kondwani James identified the deceased as 47-year-old Rose Magoya and her three children: Wyson Jailos (13), Brian Jailos (9), and Patrick Jailos (3).
According to James, the husband and father of the victims is a vendor at Malembo Trading Centre. On the evening of the incident, he returned home from work and drained petrol from his vehicle into jerricans. He then asked his children to carry the containers into the house.
“Unfortunately, one of the children slipped while carrying a jerrican, causing petrol to spill onto a glowing charcoal burner, which ignited a fire,” said James.
The remaining jerricans also caught fire, causing the flames to spread rapidly throughout the house.
Five people were injured in the incident and were initially taken to Monkey Bay Community Hospital before being referred to Mangochi District Hospital.
Four of the victims later died from their injuries.
