Three Die On Kilimanjaro
Three climbers are reported dead in a rockfall incident on Africa's highest mountain with five others seriously injured in the same accident.
Posted: 5 January 2006
by Jon
The BBC is reporting that three trekkers have died on Kilimanjaro,
Africa's highest mountain.
The report says that the three died as the result of a rockslide
and that one more climber along with four guides were 'seriously
injured as strong winds prompted a rock slide'.
The report says that the accident took place at an altitude of
almost 5,000 metres close to Arrow Glacier base camp.
Concerns over safety on Kili have generally been over the lack of
acclimatisation time in the itineraries used by many climbers which
makes altitiude sickness a common problem on the mountain along with
the relatively poor equipment used by local guides and porters.
Some experts have pushed for changes in the local peak fee system
which is a daily charge and encourages quick ascents, however this
year entry prices have been doubled for climbers in an attempt to
restrict numbers on the mountain.
There is also ongoing concern over global warming which has
largely melted the mountain's distinctive snow cap and glaciers.
More information at www.news.bbc.co.uk
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