British army fire ‘kills elephants’ at Kenyan base

A fire started by British soldiers training in Kenya could have killed elephants, prompting investigations by the army authorities, British newspaper Daily Mail reports.

It says five elephants were reportedly killed in the fire that started on Wednesday night.

Efforts to put out the huge blaze at the LolDaiga training area are ongoing.

In a tweet, the British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk) confirmed the fire and said "it was doing everything to contain" it "in order to protect the surrounding community, employees and soldiers".

Officials at the British High Commission in Kenya referred the BBC to comments by an army spokesperson who is quoted as confirming that the military exercise has been suspended.

“The exercise has been paused while conditions on the ground can be fully assessed,” the army spokesperson is quoted as saying.

Last month at least 320 British military staff were placed in quarantine at the Kenyan base to limit the spread of coronavirus to locals after confirmation of several cases among soldiers.

This article was originally published by BBC News. [Photo: Getty Images]