Mozambique: Attempt to remove bees sparks devastating fire in Mirrote Church – Watch

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Mozambique: Attempt to remove bees sparks devastating fire in Mirrote Church – Watch

4:49 CAT | 04 Jun 2025

Screen grab: Paróquia Santa Bárbara de Mogincual

A Catholic church around 60 years old in the village of Mirote, Nampula province, was partially burnt down when workers from the local parish tried to drive bees from the structure using fire, the local priest explained to Lusa this Wednesday.

The fire involved the Catholic church of the Parish of São Mateus de Mirrote, in the district of Eráti- Namapa, Nampula province, in the north of the country, whose roof was completely destroyed on May 30, when workers tried to scare away the bees living there using smoke.

“Unfortunately, they were unable to control the situation properly and the small fire prepared to smoke out the bees spread to the false ceiling and beams. By the time they realized, it was too late,” explained Father Filippo Macchi, an Italian missionary and head of the church.

The fire left around 400 members of the community without their main place of worship.

Before the flames completely engulfed the historic building, built in the 1960s, it was possible to remove liturgical objects, baptismal records, seats and various other documents from the church.

“Two believers climbed up to try to put out the fire, but found it impossible to control the situation. I want to thank the Christians and the groups of young people who entered the church to save a lot of material (…), but there came a time when it was impossible to enter, and then my Christians just stood outside crying,” the parish priest described.

Despite the fire, the structure of the church remains intact, and a rehabilitation project planned before the accident will now go ahead.

“The doors and windows were a little old and needed to be renovated. Now we need everyone’s help to do this work,” the Italian missionary priest said.

Source: Lusa