A woman died after being trapped inside a burning house in Iminyela suburb, Bulawayo, in the early hours of Monday, while a man who escaped suffered severe burns.
The fire broke out at around 3 AM at a three-roomed house. Neighbours battled the flames with buckets of water before firefighters arrived.
Bulawayo Chief Fire Officer Mhlangano Moyo said firefighters were alerted at about 3:19 AM and arrived at the property at 3:25 AM.
A search and rescue operation was conducted inside the house, where the woman was found severely burnt and lying face down under a bed.
“A search and rescue operation was conducted, and one adult female occupant was located inside the affected house, severely burnt and suspected dead on arrival,” Moyo said.
The fire was concentrated in a bedroom, destroying about 80 per cent of its contents.
The other occupant, identified only as Tymon, managed to flee the inferno but was later found by a passer-by near the intersection of Nketa Drive and Hyde Park Road. He had apparently been overcome by smoke and sustained serious third-degree burns.
He was rushed to Mpilo Central Hospital in a Fire and Ambulance Service vehicle.
Preliminary investigations indicate the blaze may have been caused by cellphone charging cables and associated equipment, with overheating or an electrical fault suspected to have ignited nearby combustible material.
Moyo said police from West Commonage were left in charge of the scene while investigations continue to establish the exact cause of the fire.
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