Tanzania’s army has sent hundreds of Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) to help fight fires on top of Africa’s tallest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. The fires have been going on for almost two weeks.
According to army officials, the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) will work with other agencies and volunteers to put out the fire before it does further harm to the mountain’s vegetation.
“Officers and men of TPDF have already arrived in Siha and Mweka areas in Kilimanjaro Region ready to fight the fire,” the TPDF states in a statement.
Following an initial fire near a camp along a popular hiking route on October 21, a succession of wildfires has broken out in various regions of the mountain.
Hundreds of people, including firefighters, national park staff, tour guides, and civilians, have worked tirelessly to put out the fires.
The source of the fires is unknown, but the government believes human activity is to blame.
The government says that it has been hard to stop the fire because of a long drought, layers of decaying organic matter, and strong winds.