TEN people were yesterday burnt to death, some of them beyond recognition when they were trapped in a mountainous area by a raging veld fire at a farm in Esigodini, Matabeleland South province.
The tragedy occurred at lot 43 farm belonging to Mr Abel
Moyo. The veld fire which swept through the farm, later spread to areas
bordering the farm.
In some cases charred remains of the victims and pieces of
clothing as well as gumboots were later retrieved from the mountain..
Thick cloud of smoke and distinct odour of burnt human
flesh lingered in the air.
When a Chronicle
news crew arrived at the farm at around 4PM, police officers with the help of
other members of the security services and farm workers were retrieving the
bodies.
The veld fire
according to eye witnesses started in the morning and the 10 were part of a
group of 15 people who had been called to put it out.
The ten were trapped by the raging fire which was worsened
by strong winds resulting in some of them being burnt beyond recognition. Four
of the fire fighters escaped with burns of varying degrees.
One person however escaped unscathed. The burnt bodies were
ferried to Esigodini Hospital mortuary.
One of the survivors, Mr Mhlaliswa Ngwenya who had burns on
his hand and head said he owes it to God for his survival.
“We were battling to
put out the fire as a group and unfortunately were surrounded by flames of the raging fire which covered a
large area. There was a gust of wind that blew the fire towards our direction.
We ran to the mountain but we were surrounded by flames of the raging fire
making it difficult to escape,” said Mr Ngwenya.
He said he had not option but to run through the flames to
esscape hence he was burnt.
“I was burnt on the arms and head. I could hear the screams of the men
being consumed by the fire.
“I collapsed when I got to the dust road and that is where
a man helped me up and started seeking help.”
Mr Ngwenya went to Esigodini District Hospital yesterday in
the morning and was discharged in the evening. He said when they returned to
the mountain that is when they found the charred bodies of his colleagues at
different locations.
He suspects illegal gold miners started the fire.
“What we saw was horrific. I have never seen or experienced
something like that. I want to thank God, because I really survived. I didn’t
think I would survive but I’m here narrating my ordeal. I’m from the hospital
and my blood pressure is very high,” said Mr Ngwenya.
The owner of the farm Mr Moyo said he was left dumbfounded
following the death of 10 people who were killed trying to rescue the farm and
its property from the raging fire. Chronicle
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