A wildfire has been burning for several days in Rwanda's Southern Province, prompting a coordinated response to extinguish the flames.
A fire continues to ravage part of Nyungwe National Park in Muganza Sector, Nyaruguru District, with more than 17 hectares of the protected forest already affected as efforts to contain the blaze continue. The wildfire has been burning for several days in the section of Nyungwe located in Rwanda’s Southern Province, prompting a coordinated response involving different institutions working to extinguish the flames and prevent the fire from spreading to other parts of the forest.
Rwanda National Police spokesperson for the Southern Province, CIP Hassan Kamanzi, said the fire started about seven kilometers from the edge of the forest, raising concerns that it could have originated from illegal human activities inside the protected area. Nyungwe National Park Manager Protais Niyigaba said fires of this nature are more common during the dry season and are often linked to people illegally entering the forest to harvest honey, noting that the current fire appears to have started from three different locations.
Firefighting teams from different institutions continue to work in the affected areas to contain the blaze and limit the destruction of the forest. Authorities are also monitoring the situation and investigating the circumstances surrounding the outbreak. Nyungwe National Park is one of Rwanda’s most important protected ecosystems, playing a vital role in water conservation, biodiversity protection, and maintaining the country’s environmental balance.
Why it mattersThe fire is affecting Nyungwe National Park, a vital protected ecosystem for water conservation and biodiversity, by destroying over 17 hectares of forest.
Read in the ASJ desk →