Parts of Mount Kilimanjaro went up in raging flames that destroyed a large chunk its forest cover for over 24 hours since the eruption which occurred last Sunday afternoon.

The Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) which oversees the Kilimanjaro National Park, within which the mountain is located, has stated that the roaring fires are being experienced on the northern slopes of the Africa's highest peak, that fall in the Rombo District of Kilimanjaro Region.

"The affected areas include sections of Amboni, Ushiri, Keryo, Kimori and Shimbi," says the Public Relations Manager for TANAPA Mr Paschal Shelutete in an official release.

According to the TANAPA officer, early reports indicate that the fire might have been caused by illegal honey harvesters who normally make fires with the aim of driving away bees from their hives or tree holes so that they can then scoop honeycombs from them.

"So far the total burnt area is estimated to be around 40 hectares," said Mr Shelutete early this week adding that trespassers had infiltrated into the conservation area through their own devised illegal routes in Amboni section of the Kilimanjaro slopes and as soon as they realized the fire was becoming uncontrollable, they fled.

TANAPA has explained that villagers from Mshiri, Lyasongoro, Amboni, Ushiri, and Ikuwini have been contacted and they have already started efforts to combat the raging flames before they could spread further.

In addition to the villagers, squads of ant-riot police officers from the Field Force Unit in Kilimanjaro region have also joined the exercise to try and put off the raging flames currently razing down the forests of Kili.

Attracting over 70,000 foreign tourists every year and generating a revenue of more than US $ 80 million, Mount Kilimanjaro is Tanzania's most valued natural feature.

Kilimanjaro was also named among the new wonders of nature (2013) and remains the 'World Heritage Site,' alongside the Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park and Zanzibar Islands.

Meanwhile, the fire that has been razing the Northern Slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro has been put off after efforts that lasted for over two days.

However clarifying further the Public Relations Manager for the Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) Mr Paschal Shelutete explained that, wardens, villagers and other workforce have succeeded in quenching 75 percent of the fire outbreak, not necessarily the whole outburst.

"We are confident that the remaining part will be easily contained," Mr Shelutete maintained without specifying when exactly this exercise is likely to be completed. TANAPA has erected special camps that serve as bases for the teams of fire fighters.

Mr Shelutete added that, despite the fire outbreak, tourism activities were still taking place on the Mountain via the Machame and Marangu routes on the Southern Slopes where the fire did not reach.

The Kilimanjaro regional Commissioner, Mr Leonidas Gama, has been mobilizing the public, especially residents of villages in the Rombo District where the fire was mostly being felt. Nanjara area was badly affected from the outbreak.

In addition to the villagers, squads of police officers from the Field Force Unit in Kilimanjaro region have also joined the exercise to try and put off the raging flames.