JTI's Warehouse in Malawi Devastated by Fire Incident

Aug.19.2024
JTI's Warehouse in Malawi Devastated by Fire Incident
JTI Leaf Malawi warehouse in Lilongwe engulfed in flames, with millions of dollars in stock lost, according to Xinhua News.

According to Xinhua News Agency, on August 18th, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) Leaf Malawi announced that a leased warehouse located in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, had caught fire causing severe damages.


The company confirmed the incident in a statement, adding that while the event resulted in "complete loss" of all inventory and supplies stored in the warehouse, no injuries or loss of life were reported.


The company's Corporate Affairs and Communication Director, Limbani Kakhome, stated in an interview with the media that the exact amount of the losses from the fire is currently unclear, but it is estimated that they could reach millions of dollars.


However, it is important to assure stakeholders that business operations will continue as usual despite the affected warehouse being separate from the company's main factory.


The statement also mentioned that...


We have developed a robust emergency plan aimed at minimizing operational disruptions and efficiently recovering from any losses.


The police spokesperson for the area, Gresham Ngwira, stated that a fire broke out at around 6 a.m. on Sunday (18th) local time, destroying the raw materials, green tobacco leaves, and other items stored in the warehouse.


Both the police and the company stated that the cause of the fire has not yet been determined.


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