FIRE ON MOUNT KILIMANJARO
Firefighters are battling to extinguish a fire on Mount Kilimanjaro.
It is not clear how the fire started. First signs of the fire were detected on Friday night close to one of the mountain’s popular climbing routes.
The BBC reports that videos posted on social media on Saturday appeared to show large flames and a blanket of smoke engulfing parts of the forest surrounding the mountain.
Professor Eliamani Sedoyeka from Tanzania’s natural resources and tourism ministry said they are hopeful that they will be able to contain the fire soon.
“We have seen great success in controlling the fire.”
When news of the fire spread, around 500 people flocked to the scene to assist. This group included firefighters, tour guides, civilians, and national park staff.
It has been reported that the fire has luckily not spread to footpaths or campsites on the mountain. So far, no injuries have been reported.
This fire follows a massive fire that took place on Mount Kilimanjaro’s slopes two years ago. The week-long inferno destroyed thousands of hectares of woodland, causing major damage to Africa’s highest mountain peak.
The mountain is a popular tourist attraction with many climbers from all over the world flocking to the mountain to climb to the top.
Image credit: Sky News