An eight-year-old girl has died after drowning in a well while drawing water at Nelson Village in Salima District on Saturday afternoon.
The deceased has been identified as Bridget Lazaro, a Standard One learner at Tungutungu Primary School.
According to Rebecca Ndiwate, public relations officer for the Malawi Police Service in the district, the incident occurred on March 7, 2026, at around 4pm at Nelson Village under Traditional Authority Kalonga.
Ndiwate said the girl had gone to a nearby well with two friends to draw water for bathing.
She explained that while attempting to draw water using a bucket, the child slipped and fell into the well.
Her friends quickly rushed to alert villagers, who responded and managed to retrieve her from the well.
However, medical personnel who later visited the scene pronounced the child dead.
According to the police, the medical examination established that the cause of death was suffocation secondary to drowning.
Police have since advised communities to ensure that wells are properly secured to prevent similar accidents.
Bridget hailed from Nelson Village under Traditional Authority Kalonga in Salima.
