Etosha fire destruction draws global attention

Werner Pillich/AP Photo via Al Jazeera

The fire in Etosha National Park has gained both local and international attention after destroying more than a million hectares of land. Authorities are facing criticism over what many view as a slow response to the blaze, which has spread across vast areas despite ongoing firefighting efforts.

Professor Morgan Hauptfleisch, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Natural Resources and Spatial Sciences at the Namibia University of Science and Technology, weighed in on the impact of the fire.

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism has announced that it has closed certain tourist routes and warned visitors to be cautious as the wind direction could change unpredictably.

Etosha National Park, spanning more than 22,000 square kilometres and home to the vast Etosha salt pan, has come under focus as Namibia fights worsening climate challenges. Addressing the UN General Assembly last week, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah warned that “climate change is scorching our lands and drying up our rivers,” while urging support for the Namib Declaration to strengthen global efforts against desertification.

According to Al Jazeera, the World Meteorological Organisation has also reported that climate change is driving more frequent wildfires, with smoke affecting air quality across regions and even continents.