KWS Responds to Reports of a Volcanic Eruption at Mount Longonot

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has refuted reports of an alleged volcanic eruption at Mount Longonot on Thursday.

On Friday, KWS clarified that the smoke emanating from the mountain was a result of a fire outbreak on the southern side of Mt. Longonot National Park, which has since been put out.

"A fire outbreak on the southern side of Mt Longonot National Park reported on Thursday, October 27, 2022, has been put out," KWS said. It added: “There was no volcanic eruption of the mountain as reported in some media platforms. We assure that the park is safe for all visitors.”

The State agency said an emergency response team dispatched to the area managed to contain and finally extinguish the inferno on Friday morning. The cause of the inferno was not immediately ascertained.

“By the time the fire was put out, it had ravaged 40 acres of bushland,” stated KWS.

Mt Longonot is a dormant volcano that resulted from the immense thermal activity taking place beneath the Great Rift Valley floor. The volcano is said to have last erupted in the 1860s.