{"id":267980,"date":"2025-09-30T10:38:50","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T08:38:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/watch-massive-blaze-in-etosha-national-park-contained-leaving-one-third-of-the-reserve-devastated\/"},"modified":"2025-09-30T10:40:13","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T08:40:13","slug":"watch-massive-blaze-in-etosha-national-park-contained-leaving-one-third-of-the-reserve-devastated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/watch-massive-blaze-in-etosha-national-park-contained-leaving-one-third-of-the-reserve-devastated\/","title":{"rendered":"WATCH: Massive blaze in Etosha National Park contained leaving one-third of the reserve devastated"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WINDHOEK, Namibia<\/strong> \u2014 A devastating wildfire that scorched more than a third of Namibia’s flagship Etosha National Park<\/a> has been brought under control, Environment Minister Indileni Daniel announced on Monday, capping an eight-day battle against flames that threatened one of Africa’s most important wildlife refuges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The massive blaze, which erupted on 22 September in the southwestern section of the park, consumed approximately 775 163 hectares – nearly 1.9 million acres or 34 percent of the reserve -before firefighting crews finally gained the upper hand. The fire spread with alarming speed through the parched landscape, driven by high winds and tinder-dry vegetation that has gripped the largely arid southern African nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The fire is now contained,” Daniel told the state-run Namibia Broadcasting Corporation during an aerial survey of the affected area Monday afternoon. “There was no visible fire as we flew over, but there are some places that have got fires on and off.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Namibian government mobilised a major emergency response, deploying more than 500 soldiers on Sunday to reinforce exhausted firefighting crews. Military helicopters and water tankers were rushed to the scene as authorities worked around the clock to prevent the fire from consuming even more of the 22 270-square-kilometer park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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