A helicopter crash on Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania has killed five people, including tourists, the country’s Civil Aviation Authority said on Thursday (December 25).
The accident occurred on Wednesday (December 24) local time near Barafu Camp on the mountain. The helicopter was on a medical evacuation mission at the time of the crash.
Among the deceased were two foreign nationals, a tour guide, the pilot, and a doctor who was part of the rescue team.
Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, rises to nearly 6,000 metres (about 20,000 feet) above sea level. Authorities said the crash took place at an altitude between 4,670 and 4,700 metres. The mountain attracts around 50,000 climbers every year.
The region is known for strong winds and rapidly changing weather conditions, which often complicate rescue operations.