A 45-year-old man, Frank Phiri, has died after sustaining severe burns when his house caught fire in Mchinji due to petrol he was illegally storing and selling.

According to Mchinji Police spokesperson Limbani Mpinganjira, the incident occurred on the afternoon of November 26 in Sawala Village.

Mpinganjira explained that the fire started while Phiri was inside his shop, which was attached to his house. Residents rushed to rescue him, but he had already suffered extensive burns.

He was initially taken to Mchinji District Hospital and later referred to Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Police in Mchinji have since issued a warning against the illegal storage of fuel, urging the public to adhere to regulations set by the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) to avoid similar tragedies.