Wildfires ravage Kenyan mountain forests

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Aberdare National Park contains moorland, forests and is home to a variety of wildlife[Photo: Getty Images]

More than 40,000 acres (16,000 hectares) of forest have been destroyed by wildfires in the Aberdare Mountain Range in central Kenya.

The fires, first reported in forests of the Aberdare National Park two weeks ago, have persisted despite hundreds of firefighters being deployed to the region to try and contain them.

Two rangers from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) were killed when their vehicle rolled as they rushed to the scene on the second day.

Bakari Mungumi, from KWS’s Mountain Conservation, told the BBC an investigation into the cause of the fire was still ongoing.

Long periods of drought on the moorlands and forests leads to dry brush, which is a risk if a fire starts.

“Rising temperatures and dry matter are causing flare-ups on the moorlands, hence making it difficult to put out the fires,” Mr Mungumi said.

This is not the first fire in the region. In 2012, a fire destroyed more than 70,000 acres of the forest.

Aberdare is the third highest mountain range in Kenya, reaching a summit of around 4,000m (13,100ft).

Reporting by BBC Africa