The video shows dark clouds of smoke billowing over Africa’s tallest mountain as crews battle raging flames raging over Kilimanjaro.
The fire broke out Friday evening on the south side of the mountain along a popular climbing route. Authorities have not yet determined how the fire started, but at least two park officials have said they are “certain” from human activity.
The fire broke out about 4,000 meters above sea level near the Karanga camp, which is used by climbers climbing the mountain.
More than 300 people were mobilized to fight the blaze on Saturday, with police and locals in Tanzania helping firefighters.
Tanzanian authorities said Sunday the inferno was largely under control and the aim was to get the blaze under complete control by evening.
The fire comes just two years after a week-long inferno raged over Mount Kilimanjaro, destroying thousands of acres of forest on its slopes.
Video shows dark clouds of smoke billowing over Africa’s tallest mountain as crews battle fierce flames raging over Kilimanjaro
The fire broke out Friday evening on the south side of the mountain along a popular climbing route. Officials have not yet determined how the fire started
At least one park official said he is ‘certain’ human activity is to blame for the raging inferno
“We have seen great success in controlling the fire. In most areas it has already been extinguished to a large extent, although smoking continues,” said Eliamani Sedoyeka, an official at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism.
Mr. Sedoyeka noted that they hope to have the fire completely under control by Sunday evening.
Nurdin Babu, the prefect of Kilimanjaro, told reporters on Sunday that “everything is under control…we have managed to get most of the fire under control.”
The fire has left no casualties in the tourist hotspot and UNESCO World Heritage Site in northeastern Tanzania, where tens of thousands of climbers flock each year to conquer the snow-capped peak.
The cause remains unknown, but Sedoyeka said on Saturday that a climber or honey hunters may have started it “carelessly.”
Herman Batiho, an official with the Tanzania National Parks Authority, said he was “certain” that human activities were to blame for illegal poaching or honey extraction by locals.
Footage on social media on Saturday showed huge flames consuming vegetation and shrubs, releasing gray smoke.
More than 300 people were mobilized on Saturday to fight the blaze, with police and locals in Tanzania helping firefighters
Tanzanian authorities said Sunday the inferno was largely under control and the aim was to have the fire under complete control by evening.
The fire left no casualties in the tourist hotspot and UNESCO World Heritage Site in northeastern Tanzania, where tens of thousands of climbers flock each year to conquer the snow-capped peak
An official with Tanzania’s national parks authority said he was “certain” that human activities were to blame for illegal poaching or honey extraction by locals.
The fire started Friday night and was spread by high winds overnight, regional officials revealed. They couldn’t tell yet how much ground it covered.
A plane carrying local officials and senior members of the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) for a visit to evaluate the situation was unable to land on Saturday.
“Large clouds and the smoke prevented us from reaching the fire zone,” Babu told reporters on Saturday. “We’ll try again when the situation improves.”
Videos posted to social media appeared to show the flames devouring vegetation and releasing thick clouds of gray smoke.
Police, firefighters, local university students and even tour operator personnel worked hard to bring the blaze under control, TANAPA said in a brief statement.
The fire started Friday night and was spread by high winds overnight, regional officials revealed. They couldn’t tell yet how much ground it covered
Videos posted to social media appeared to show flames devouring vegetation and releasing thick clouds of gray smoke
Police, firefighters, local university students and even tour operator personnel worked hard to bring the blaze under control, TANAPA said in a brief statement.
“We have seen great success in controlling the fire. In most areas it has already been extinguished to a large extent, although smoking continues,” said Eliamani Sedoyeka (not pictured), an official with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism.
Local tour leader Abraham Moshi says some of his employees are among those helping fight the fire. He recalls seeing the fire for the first time on Friday from his home in Moshi, south of the mountain.
“We were having a barbecue outside. We saw great huge flames coming out of the mountainside. We didn’t know what it was at first,” said Mr Moshi, who runs the Exuberant Kilimanjaro Safaris travel agency, Sky News on Sunday.
“We started making videos, but nobody knew what it was until Saturday, [when] it was reported that there was a major fire.’
He added: “Right now it’s the dry season, we’re still pretty much in the dry season. The rain was now supposed to start in November, but we still haven’t received any rain. It’s quite dry and windy – that could affect the fire.’
Located in the northeast of the country, Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest peak at 5,895 meters (19,340 feet). The snow-capped peak is known all over the world.
The forests around it are part of a national park. Kilimanjaro National Parks is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in part because it is home to many endangered species.