A family of Petauke District in Eastern Province is appealing for humanitarian aid after they left homeless after their house caught fire on Sunday morning, November 24, 2024.

Mr.  Boyd Sakala, the owner of the said house, told ZANIS as his family were holding prayers aroud 09:00hours one of his sons surprisingly noticed that there was fire in the house.

Mr Sakala said he quickly switched off the mains after which he called for Firebrigade who were a little  too late. 

The fire brigade did not have enough water to quench the fire resulting in most of his household goods being destroyed, he lamented.

“I am just appealing to well-wishers to come to the aid of my family as we have lost everything, and I don’t even know where to start from,” Mr Sakala said.

And Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer Robson Mweemba azlso confirmed the incident to ZANIS, stating that the cause of the fire was still being ascertained.

Mr Mwemba said however that preliminary investigations indicate that fire started from the roof stating that goods worth over K265,000 were lost in the inferno.

“We are still investigating the cause of the fire, but it is believed to have started from the roof,” he said.

And Anna Phiri, a neighbour to the fire victim,  said despite the significant loss of goods and damage to the house, no lives were lost in the fire. 

She sympathised with Mr Sakala and called for financial and emotional support for the family.

Ms Phiri observed it would take time for the family to recover from the devastating loss if no immediate help was  rendered. 

“Please, let us find time to encourage our friends as they are going through difficult times of their lives,” she urged.