LUSAKA – Six University of Zambia (UNZA) students escaped unharmed after a fire gutted two hostel rooms at the institution's Great East Road Campus, destroying laptops, refrigerators, clothing, documents and other personal belongings.
The fire broke out at around 19:00 hours on Monday in Room 18 of October 2 Hostel before spreading to the neighbouring Room 28.
According to preliminary police investigations, the blaze is believed to have started from an electrical socket while students were using an electric cooker.
As thick smoke engulfed the hostel, the six occupants managed to raise the alarm and safely evacuate before the fire spread through the rooms.
The Fire Brigade later responded to the scene and successfully extinguished the fire, preventing it from spreading to other parts of the hostel.
Police spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi confirmed that all six students escaped without sustaining any injuries.
"The fire destroyed clothing, laptops, refrigerators, documents and other personal belongings in Room 18 before spreading to the neighbouring Room 28, where additional property was also destroyed," Mr. Chilabi said.
Police have since processed the scene and launched investigations to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.
The value of the property destroyed in the fire has not yet been determined.
Source: Kalemba News (By George Musonda)