Malawi Defense Force (MDF) has confirmed that one soldier has died while five others are missing, including two civilians following the accident that happened at Bua River in Kasungu on Sunday.

It is reported that the soldiers and the civilians were removing the bailey bridge which later collapsed on them.

MDF spokesperson Paul Chiphwanya confirmed the incident to local media on Monday.

“For now, I cannot give details of those missing and dead. Just know that one body has been found, therefore we are remaining with three soldiers and two civilians. Others have been injured,” Chiphwanya said.

When asked how civilians were involved in a job done by the military, Chiphwanya simply replied that they work with civilians.

“Even here at the barracks, we have civilians,” he said.

Kasungu Police spokesperson Harry Namwaza could not be reached for comment, but local media reports that the injured have been referred to Kasungu District Hospital.

But a preliminary Police report that has gone viral from Kasungu Police to the Commissioner of Police for Central Region indicates that Swanki Contractors hired 20 soldiers from Engineers Battalion camp in Kasungu to dismantle the said bridge which connects Kasungu and Nkhotakota.

“… as they were cutting the barriers, they all fell into heavy running water. Eleven of them survived with different injuries ranging from minor to serious,” reads part of the report.

Source : Kulinji.com