By Shaffie A Mtambo
Two fishermen have died after being struck by lightning while fishing in Lake Malawi at Moto Fishing Dock in Mangochi.
According to Mangochi Police Public Relations Officer Inspector Amina Tepani Daudi, says the incident took place on the evening of December 31, 2024 in the area of Traditional Authority Namabvi in the district.
Daudi added that the two have been identified as Adam Paudala, 25, from Ng’ombe Village, Traditional Authority Namabvi in Mangochi, and Mark Nedi, 20, from Mwanapiye Village, Traditional Authority Mwambo in Zomba.
According to police reports, eight fishermen went fishing that evening using two canoes, with each canoe carrying four individuals.
Suddenly, lightning struck their canoe, causing significant damage and electrocuting the two men.
All four fishermen in the canoe fell into the water. While two were rescued by their colleagues from the second canoe, Paudala and Nedi drowned and went missing.
A search organized by local fishermen later located the bodies of the two men(now deceased) floating near Moto Fishing Dock on New Year’s Eve. Both bodies had severe burn injuries.
Police officers and medical personnel from Lungwena Health Centre examined the scene. A postmortem confirmed that the cause of death was cardiogenic electric shock, secondary to suffocation.
Police in Mangochi have since appealed to fishermen to pay close attention to weather forecasts and avoid fishing during severe weather conditions to prevent similar tragedies.
