Dead body and eight passengers rescued as ambulance catches fire in Zanzibar
What you need to know:
- The incident occurred at around 11:00am on April 24, 2025, as the ambulance was en route from Mbweni to a burial site.
Zanzibar. A hearse transporting a deceased person and eight passengers narrowly avoided tragedy after it caught fire in the Saateni area of Zanzibar’s Urban West Region on Thursday morning.
The incident occurred at around 11:00am on April 24, 2025, as the ambulance was en route from Mbweni to a burial site.
According to the head of operations at the Zanzibar Fire and Rescue Force, Assistant Commissioner Haji Pandu Hamad, the vehicle was damaged in the fire but all occupants, including the deceased, were unharmed.
“The driver reported hearing a popping sound before flames engulfed the vehicle. Fortunately, no injuries occurred,” Mr Hamad said. He commended nearby residents for their swift response in extinguishing the fire before emergency crews arrived.
Witnesses, including teachers at the adjacent Saateni Nursery School, confirmed they used hoses and buckets of water to douse the flames.
Driver Sheikh Jamal Murtaza said the vehicle’s alarm had gone off moments before the fire broke out, prompting him to shut off the engine.
“We quickly removed the body, and locals stepped in to help control the fire. Our small extinguisher alone would not have been enough,” he recounted.
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the blaze. An investigation is underway.
