Three people are reported dead in Mzimba after the vehicle that they were travelling in was involved in an accident at Jenda Road block.

Northern Region Police spokesperson Maurice Chapola confirmed of the development in an interview with the press and identified one of the deceased as Albert Mwitha, the driver.

Chapola identified two others as illegal immigrants from Ethiopia.

According to Chapola, the victims were travelling in a minibus, a Nissan Vanette registration no KK6118, and were in the company of other immigrants in two other vehicles.

Chapola said the driver was running away from Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) officials at the road block and he thought of using a shorter route with the hope of reconnecting soon after the mounted road block.

However, as they approached the re-connection point, they became afraid of joining the M1 Road after seeing MRA officials.

In the course of escaping, Mwitha allegedly lost control of the vehicle and it swerved off the road, hitting an embankment, killing three people in the process.

Meanwhile six other illegal immigrants are receiving treatment at Mzimba district hospital.