Heavy fires have broken out at Kilimanjaro, a major tourist attraction in Kenya and Tanzania, and Africa’s highest peak.
The fire broke out on Sunday afternoon and has not yet been captured, according to Tanzanian National Park officials.
Brief media release on Twitter Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa) said the fire broke out at Vona, a pit stop for mountaineers using the Mandira and Hormobo routes.
“Several teams, including residents, college college students and the local fire brigade, are currently trying to put up [out] Fire. Tanapa will continue to take all precautions to ensure the safety of all visitors and their devices.
It was not immediately clear what caused the fire and whether anyone was using the affected road when it erupted. Shelute promised to make a comprehensive statement as soon as more information became available.
a Photo Posted on Tanapa’s Twitter account, which, taken from a distance, showed a line of fire on the slopes of the mountain. Daniel Majema, a journalist based in Moshi, a town on the slopes of the mountain, said they could see the fire from 7 p.m. on Sunday.
“Even though the fire broke out at the tail end of the fire season, if it continues, it will affect tourism activities in Kilimanjaro as no climber will endanger the accused going,” MJMA said.
Kilimanjaro, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is 5,895 meters above sea level and is the world’s highest free standing volcano. UNESCO has said that increasing water use in the surrounding areas and human activities, including water and air pollution, pose a threat to mountain ecology.
“Tourism is a significant threat and requires careful planning for the development of related infrastructure and development access,” UNESCO said.
The mountain is located on the border of Kenya and Tanzania and both countries have benefited a lot from the tourism activities around it. Amboseli National Park in Kenya, famous for its huge herds of elephants, draws its water from the mountains.
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