Fire has gutted down the kitchen of Mchinji District Hospital, destroying cooking apparatus, furniture and other items.

Mchinji police spokesperson Sergeant Moses Kajawa Nyirenda confirmed of the incident, saying the fire started in the wee hours of Sunday.

The cause is yet to be established, but the police and hospital officials suspect an electrical fault.
Meanwhile, an assessment is underway to establish the cost of damage.

“We managed to contain the fire with the help of well wishers who worked tireless to prevent it from spreading to other departments,” said Kajawa.

He said the fire could have spread to the children’s ward which is close to the kitchen if it was not stopped.

According to sergeant Kajawa, the police are working with the administration of the hospital to find the cause of the fire.

Fire accidents have become common place in Malawi since the start of 2014.