Mount Kilimanjaro fire under control, say Tanzania authorities
DAR ES SALAAM, Oct 24 — Tanzanian authorities said yesterday a fire on Mount Kilimanjaro was under control after flames burned Africa’s tallest mountain for more than 24 hours.
The blaze began on Friday evening near the Karanga site used by climbers ascending the famous peak, at about 4,000 metres altitude on its south side.
“The situation is generally under control and we believe it will completely tackled as time goes,” said a statement from the Natural Resources and Tourism Minister, Pindi Chana.
Earlier yesterday evening, a ministry statement had said that the situation had “to a large extent” been extinguished.
Local official Nurdin Babu told reporters “everything is under control... we have managed to control the fire to a great extent”.
The blaze left no victims in the tourist hotspot and Unesco World Heritage site in north-eastern Tanzania, where tens of thousands of climbers flock each year to conquer its snow-capped peak.
Hundreds of people including firefighters, national park staff and civilians were mobilised to fight the flames that were fanned by a strong wind.
Social media footage on Saturday showed huge flames consuming vegetation and bushes and giving off grey smoke.
The cause remains unknown but Sedoyeka on Saturday said a climber or honey hunters may have started it “carelessly”.
Herman Batiho, an official at Tanzania’s national parks authority, said he was “sure” human activity was to blame through illegal poaching or locals extracting honey.
The latest blaze comes two years after another fire raged for a week in October 2020 across 95 square kilometres. — AFP
Tanzanian authorities have mobilized more than 600 firefighters to put out a fire on Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, an official said on Sunday.
Nurdin Babu, the Kilimanjaro regional commissioner, said that the firefighters have been drawn from the Tanzania Fire and Rescue Force, the Tanzania National Parks, police, scouts, members of the militia and the private sector.
The fire broke out on Friday night at about 4,000 meters altitude on the south side of the mountain and was quickly spread by strong winds, said Babu.
"We are hoping that the fire will be contained by tonight by the 600-plus strong team of firefighters," he said, adding that the cause of the fire and the damaged caused were yet to be established.
He said initially there were plans to request the Tanzania People's Defense Forces (TPDF) to help in fighting the fire but the plans were dropped after reports indicated that there was good progress in putting out the fire.
On Saturday afternoon, Babu said he flew over the mountain with a team of experts for aerial survey to assess damage caused by the fire but the mission was cut short due to heavy smoke and bad weather.
"We made another attempt on Saturday night and managed to see affected areas," he said, adding that there were no reported casualties.
In October 2020, a fire broke out on the mountain and destroyed 95.5 square kilometers of vegetation and 12 huts, two toilets and solar equipment used by tourists climbing the mountain.
Mount Kilimanjaro, with its snow-capped peak with about 5,895 meters above sea level, is one of Tanzania's leading tourist destinations.
Roughly 50,000 trekkers from across the world attempt to reach the summit of the mountain annually.
Source(s): Xinhua News Agency
Tanzania's iconic Mt. Kilimanjaro on fire
Fire fighters battling raging inferno, posing serious threat to flora, fauna surrounding Africa’s highest mountain peak
Kizito Makoye |12.10.2020
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania
Firefighters and a legion of first responders in Tanzania are battling a raging inferno on Mt. Kilimanjaro, which has been spreading since Sunday evening, posing a serious threat to the flora and fauna surrounding Africa’s highest mountain peak.
The fast-spreading bushfire, believed to be fueled by soaring temperature and high winds, erupted near Whona camp – a stopover used by tourists and hikers – and efforts to contain it are underway, authorities said on Monday.
The Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA), which manages the park within which the mountain is perched, said the roaring flames have destroyed a large part of the mountain forest near a resting camp for tourists who use Mandara and Horombo routes to climb.
Pascal Shelutete, TANAPA’s senior assistant commissioner, said in a statement that firefighters, emergency responders and volunteers from the College of African Wildlife Management (CAWMSO) have joined forces with local residents to battle the blaze, whose source is still unknown. No casualties have been reported so far.
“We are taking all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our visitors and their property, without jeopardizing ongoing tourism activities in the area,” Shelutete said.
He did not say about the extent of the damage so far, promising to give more details later as authorities are still assessing the situation.
However, eyewitness reports suggest the fire may have been caused by illegal honey harvesters who often use smoke to scare away bees from the hives or tree holes.
Meanwhile, David Ponera, a representative of CAWMSO, said hundreds of students have been dispatched to help put out the blaze.
However, sources in Kilimanjaro said a lack of equipment and high altitude are hampering efforts to bring the blaze under control.
Climate change, human impact
Kilimanjaro, the world’s tallest free-standing mountain at 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) above sea level, is highly susceptible to the worsening impacts of climate change and increasing human activities.
The mountain, which attracts about 50,000 tourists every year, has frequently braved fire incidents.
Wildfire and rampant illegal logging have encroached on the ecosystem around the park and disturbed a forest belt around the mountain area, local authorities said.
According to Wilbad Meena, a local resident, a single wildfire in the mountain is capable of destroying hundreds of hectares of woods as well as killing many endangered animal species.
“I honestly cannot correctly assess the scale of forest destruction but it is big, I could see a plume of smoke rising into the sky from as far as Moshi,” said Meena.
Tom Odula
The Associated Press
This satellite image taken by NASA on Monday, Oct. 12, 2020 shows
NAIROBI, KENYA -- Tanzanian authorities say 500 volunteers have been trying to put out a fire on Africa's tallest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro. The flames can be seen from miles away.
A Tanzania National Parks statement said the volunteers have managed to limit the fire's spread. Spokesman Pascal Shelutete said the area still burning is known as Kifunika Hill.
He said the cause of the fire is yet to be established.
Shelutete did not say how the fire that has been burning for more than a day has affected wildlife or vegetation, but he assured tourists of their safety. The mountain is popular with hikers and climbers.
Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highest single free-standing mountain in the world, with a height of 19,443 feet.
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