Kilimanjaro falling rocks kill tourists, guides

Three tourists and an unknown number of Tanzanian guides were killed when rocks and boulders tumbled down Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak.

Tanzania National Parks head Gerald Digurube said the climbers were sleeping in tents before making their final ascent when the rocks dislodged because of a sudden change in the weather at Kibo peak.

Five other tourists were seriously injured, and were taken to Kilimanjaro Medical Centre for treatment, Digurube said.

Thomas Kimaro, owner of Alpine Tours, which organises trips to Kilimanjaro, said several guides were among those killed and wounded in the tour's group, but he could not say how many.

Digurube said there had been several groups on the mountain at the time, which were organised by various tour operators and set out for the climb on Saturday.

Kilimanjaro park staff rescued an unspecified number of uninjured people, he said.

No information on the tourists' nationalities was immediately available.

There were 20-30 tourists in the Alpine Tours group, Kimaro said. They had taken the most difficult and dangerous route to Kibo peak.

"The route needs control, but there are many tourists who seek a challenging ascent and they prefer this route," Kimaro said.

Global warming has melted some of Mount Kilimanjaro's glaciers, Kimaro said, causing the ice to retreat, which had loosened rocks it once held in place.

Kimaro said Alpine Tours did not have any groups at the peak but was communicating with colleagues on the mountain.

The tourists and guides were in groups organised by various tour operators, Kimaro said.

AP