The Tanzania Kilimanjaro National Park Authority has closed down a trekking path leading up to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in the wake of a rockslide incident that killed three American climbers.

The decision to close down the route was reached after consultations between the park authorities and tour operators, according to James Wakibara, acting chief warden of the Kilimanjaro National Park.

The warden said that his office is still contacting such experts as geologists to figure out the exact cause of the incident.

The fateful incident occurred on Wednesday morning last week when two groups of climbers hiked to about 4,877 meters above sea level where a strong gust of wind dislodged rocks and boulders that fell to cause the tragedy.

Mount Kilimanjaro stands 4,895 meters above sea level and is the highest mountain peak in Africa.

It was the first incident of its kind on record on Mount Kilimanjaro.

Source: Xinhua