Mozambique: Forest fire kills five in Mocuba, Zambezia

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Mozambique: Forest fire kills five in Mocuba, Zambezia

7:36 CAT | 10 Sep 2021

Photo: O País

Five members of the same family died following a fire in Mocuba district, Zambézia province, central Mozambique, a source from the National Public Salvation Service (SENSAP) told Lusa on Wednesday.

Manuel Cumaio, spokesman for SENSAP in Zambézia, said that the accident occurred on Monday, when a fire deliberately lit to clear agricultural fields ran out of control.

Among the dead are two males and three females, four of whom were teenagers aged between 13 and 16 years.

A nearby house was completely destroyed, Cumaio said.

André Tazingua, commander of the SENSAP in Zambezia province, told O País that the victims lost their lives because they were unaware of the fire.

“The forest fire was complex, and incapacitated experts in the field of rescue many times. The victims lost consciousness from inhaling smoke, and this may unfortunately have precipitated their deaths,” Commander Tazingua said.

SENSAP in Mocuba recently acquired a 2,000-litre fire truck. Commander Tazingua explained that, had the truck been fully operational, it could have minimised the damage caused.

“Unfortunately, there was a lack of fluidity in communication at the site of the fire. This complicated the situation, so much so that it consumed a large part of the forest,” he said.

The bodies of the victims were buried on Tuesday, the district government of Mocuba and the provincial government expressing solidarity with the bereaved families.

Administrator Joaquim Pahare called on the public to always be careful when handling fire, or risk continuing to register deaths.

“Always be careful with fire. We are here to show solidarity with families. It pleases us to hear that they managed to save the life of a sick person, who was nearly hit by the fire. We wish the families strength and courage,” Pahare said.

The National Institute for Disaster Management (INGD) has allocated supplies and blankets to bereaved families, while a multi-sectorial team was deployed to the field to build a firmer picture of the events.

Source: Lusa / O País