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At first, the situation on Kilimanjaro seemed to improve. But now they had to go. A group of Swiss, German and Austrian mountaineers had to tear down their tents and escape to safety.
On the southern flank of Kilimanjaro, some of the approximately 500 helpers attempted to break through firebreaks with hoes and branches. According to the Tanzanian National Parks Authority, Tanapa, more than 28 square kilometers of heathland have been burned so far.
Tourism Minister Hamisi Kigwangalla called Wednesday during an on-site inspection to step up efforts to control the large fire. A previously announced press conference was canceled on short notice.
Last burned in 2016
Tanapa chief Allan Kijazi, who briefed the minister at the scene, had said a few days before the evacuation: “We have managed to contain the fire in large areas.” However, he admitted that the flames continued to burn unabated in new hard-to-reach areas.
Meanwhile, there was the first hope of rain after it rained a bit in the town of Moshi at the foot of the mountain. According to Tanapa, the largest fire occurred at an altitude of almost 3,000 meters for an unknown cause. The height and the sometimes difficult access to the source of the fire make extinguishing work difficult.
The last time there was a fire on Kilimanjaro was in October 2016. Kilimanjaro with its 5895 meters is not only considered the highest mountain in Africa, but also the landmark of Tanzania. In “normal” times it is climbed by tens of thousands of mountaineers from all over the world. (SDA)
