Fire breaks out on Mount Kilimanjaro, tourism unaffected

DAR ES SALAAM, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- A fire broke out on Mount Kilimanjaro in northern Tanzania on Thursday, with containment efforts underway.

According to a statement by the Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA), the fire erupted around 3:30 p.m. local time Thursday in the Kikererwa area within Kilimanjaro National Park, near the park's boundary with Rombo District in Kilimanjaro Region.

Following the outbreak of the blaze, TANAPA promptly deployed a firefighting team from its conservation force to contain and control the situation, the statement said.

The cause of the fire has not yet been established, and investigations are underway in collaboration with relevant security and law enforcement authorities, it added.

Despite the incident, tourism activities within Kilimanjaro National Park, including mountain climbing, continue normally. The statement assured the public that the safety and security of the park, its visitors, and its natural resources remain a top priority.