Search For Lost Relatives

Zimbabwe: Horror Fire - Search on for Missing Relatives

Harare residents with missing relatives yesterday flocked to Harare Central Hospital in a desperate search for their loved ones they suspect could have been burnt after a fuel tanker exploded in Sunningdale at the weekend.

Three people were killed while 16 others sustained serious burns when the tanker from which they were siphoning petrol burst into flames following an accident.

Although there were three confirmed deaths as of last night, police and members of the public suspect more people could have been burnt to ashes.

Sunningdale residents insist more than 20 people were draining fuel from the tanker when it blew up. Police spokesperson Inspector James Sabau yesterday said investigations were still in progress.

"The number still stands at three deaths and our officers attended the scene and couldn't find any indication in the debris. However, we are continuing with our investigations and we still urge those who are missing their relatives - whom they think might have died in the inferno - to come forward and inform us," he said.

On the cause of the fire, Insp Sabau said:"We are still waiting for a report from the Fire Brigade and once they are through, we will let you know."

The Herald was at Harare Central Hospital yesterday during the afternoon visit hour and saw several people looking for missing relatives.

"Since yesterday, we are still trying to locate my son and we have been to Parirenyatwa Hospital and he is not there and here (Harare Central Hospital) we are being told that they don't have such a patient.

"Chances are high that he could have perished in the fire," said Mrs Thelma Runesu.

Another sobbing woman, who identified herself as Mrs Zhakata said: "We have been everywhere. He (her son) went to the scene with our neighbours with their buckets and I am still to figure out the hospital where he is admitted."

Two other people who declined to be named said they failed to locate their missing relatives among the injured. The relatives are also facing a challenge identifying their loved ones because some of them were badly burnt.

A sombre atmosphere engulfed Sunningdale yesterday afternoon as residents mourned the three who perished in the fire while others pondered over the fate of their missing relatives

Scores of residents were still thronging the scene of the fatal accident to see the remnants of the tanker.

Scrap metal dealers could be seen scouring the scene in search of scrap as residents watched.

Looking for your long lost relatives? « Professional Medical Corp

When life gets busy, you tend to lose contact with family members and distant relatives. Many people have different reasons to find their long lost uncle,  second cousin twice removed or that billionaire aunt that you heard you had (one can dream). AARP.com found some websites that you can start with to research your family history and find any family members you never knew you had.

State and local records: Put together by volunteers, this website USGenWeb Project provides genealogical research in every county and every state in the United States.

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum : The museum has a huge database of 42 million records of survivors and Holocaust victims: USHMM.org/research/collections/search/.

Ancestry.com: If you feel like paying for a service that allows you to search through 6 billion records worldwide, then give this website a shot. However, many local libraries have a subscription to this site so try there first. Ancestry.com also sponsors RootsWeb.ancestry.com . This website is free, made possible by volunteers and includes local history, gravestones and old church records.

Ellisisland.org: This website offers a list of passengers from every ship that entered the Port of New York between 1892 and 1924. This is a neat website, because you can find the passengers’ last residence, their profession, and any other family members that they have in the US and in their country of origin.

Findagrave.com: A database that provides more than 60 million grave records and millions of photos.

Click here for more websites to continue your search!

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