Spokesperson for Karonga Police George Mulewa confirmed the accident which involved a 10 tonner Scania lorry registration number DZ2986 which was being driven by Isaac Simfukwe.

He said the vehicle coming from Karonga boma had 50 passengers on board who were going to Mlare in the district to attend a funeral ceremony.

“Upon arrival at Mlare, the vehicle’s front tyre burst which resulted in the vehicle overturning. Seven people died on spot due to severe head injuries and fractures on various limbs while others are receiving treatment at Karonga District Hospital,” he said.

Simfukwe identified three of the deceased as Lenford Munthali, 39, Rachel Munthali, 33, and Makhumbo Kalolokesya, 40, all from Karonga district while particulars of the others were yet to be established.

“We are asking members of the general public to visit the Karonga District Hospital mortuary through Karonga Police Station to identify the other deceased if they suspect that their male relatives who were going to a funeral in Mlare by the stated motor vehicle are missing,” he said.

There was commotion when bodies of the deceased and the casualties started arriving at the district hospital as relatives of those involved in the accident flocked to the health facility to check on their relatives.

Police were involved to bring order as some people went into the treatment rooms, a situation that made it difficult for health officers to attend to the injured.

Recently another fatal accident in the district claimed 25 lives while scores of others were hospitalized for various degrees of injury after an open vehicle in which they were travelling from a football match overturned at Tenenthe.

(By Tiwonge Kampondeni, Malawi News Agency)