The authorities in Tanzania suspect that porters who were warming food for a group of mountain climbers may have accidentally started a fire that broke out on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The dry vegetation at the Whona area, a rest centre, quickly caught fire leading to the huge blaze, according to Tanzania National Parks official Pascal Shelutete.

“The fire is under control and we are ensuring that climbing activities are not affected,” Mr Shelutete said.

Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, is a popular tourist destination and tens of thousands of people climb it every year.

Mwananchi news site has shared a video of Mr Shelutete speaking to journalists in Swahili.