Four family members die as house collapses

Four members of a family died Friday night after their house collapsed on them at Masasa, on the outskirts of Mzuzu City.

However, two children aged 16 and 10, survived as they were not in the house at the time of the accident.

Northern Region Police spokesperson Maurice Chapola confirmed the incident that happened after a heavy downpour in the city.

Police identified the deceased as Ivy Banda, 31, of Ndapatila Village in Nkhotakota,  Robison Malindi, 37, of Munjilane Village, T/A Kalinga in Machinga and their son Ishmael Malindi, 4, and daughter Aisha Malindi, 7.

“This accident happened around 3 am.  The bodies were transferred to Mzuzu Central Hospital,” he said.

Mzuzu City Council spokesperson McDonald Gondwe said they were saddened by the incident.

Said Gondwe: “We have received support amounting to K2 million from the State House and we are grateful to the President.

“We are also working with the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma), but the council will also provide a vehicle to ferry the remains [to Nkhotakota].”

Dodma spokesperson Chipiliro Khamula said they have received a preliminary report from the city council.

“We are still waiting for a final report. But since October last year, over 40 000 people have been affected by disasters,” he said.