A 16-year-old boy has died after the family house he was sleeping in caught fire.

The rest of the family members survived the fire.

ZANIS reports that Mansa District Commissioner, Ireen chivweta has confirmed the incident which happened on 11 January 2025 in Musenga Site and Service.

Ms Chivweta has identified the deceased as Joshua Chikombe whose remains have been deposited at Mansa General Hospital Mortuary awaiting postmortem and burial.

The inferno whose source is still unknown started  around 24 hours while the family was asleep in the house, and has also destroyed the house and household property worth over K 850,000 leaving the family homeless.

Speaking when she visited the funeral house, Ms Chivweta said Police are investigating the cause of the fire.

Ms Chivweta has since donated goods worth K7, 200 which included mattresses and some food stuffs to the family.

“The loss of life in such a manner is a great tragedy, especially a life as young as this one, government can just encourage the bereaved family to keep their faith in God and hope that in a way they shall recover from this loss,” Ms Chivweta said.

Meanwhile, father to the deceased boy, Jeff Chikombe has commended Ms Chivweta for coming to the aid of the family.

Mr Chikombe has since appealed to the government to offer employment to his two daughters who finished their tertiary education in Nursing and Teaching as they may help the family recover from the loss as he was the only breadwinner in the family.