"Wildfires that have raged through one of Africa's largest national parks were under control, Namibia's government has said, amid criticisms from citizen firefighters over the lack of a national disaster response mechanism and limited resources. Fire broke out in Etosha national park, in the arid desert nation's north, on 22 September. The government said it suspected charcoal production next to the park, which is home to 114 mammal species including the critically endangered black rhino, was to blame."
"On Saturday, the government said 49 soldiers were being deployed to fight the fires and a further 500 on Sunday. It said more than 775,000 hectares inside the park, about a third of its area, had been burned and another 171,000 outside it. All fires contained / mop-up and monitoring continues, the prime minister, Tjitunga Elijah Ngurare, posted on his Facebook page on Monday morning, listing 10 separate blazes in the region."
Wildfires broke out in Etosha National Park on 22 September. The government suspected charcoal production next to the park as the cause. More than 775,000 hectares inside the park, about a third of its area, and another 171,000 hectares outside it were burned. The government deployed 49 soldiers initially and a further 500, and the prime minister reported that all fires were contained while mop-up and monitoring continue, listing 10 separate blazes. Volunteer citizen firefighters criticized delayed coordination and limited resources, reporting multiple active fires and late acceptance of help. Private aviation operators flew reconnaissance to assist farmers. Etosha hosts 114 mammal species including the critically endangered black rhino.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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