Namibia says it is sending in helicopters and hundreds of soldiers to battle a fire that has ravaged a third of a key nature reserve.

Etosha National Park is one of southern Africa’s top tourist attractions, known for its vast salt pan that can be seen from space. It is also home to critically endangered black rhinos.

The country’s environment ministry believes the fire broke out on Monday at a charcoal production site outside the park’s borders.

Almost a week on, it has spread into the park killing at least nine antelope and destroying wildlife habitats, as well as hundreds of thousands of hectares of grazing pasture outside the park in regions bordering Angola.

“Strong winds and dry vegetation” were partly to blame for the rapid escalation of the blaze, officials say.

Opposition MP Likando Rodrick recently criticised the government for failing to contain the fire, saying it should have been better prepared and urging it to beef up its long-term response measures.

At an emergency meeting on Saturday, it was decided to send more than 500 troops to help firefighters, police, and volunteers on the ground, Prime Minister Tjitunga Elijah Ngurare said on X.

Late on Sunday, the presidency said fires which had spread to grazing land in Oshikoto, Oshana and Kunene regions were now under control. But, it said, the full extent of destruction would not be clear until aerial photographs were complete.

“The fire poses a significant threat to the biodiversity, wildlife and livelihood of the communities in the affected areas,” the statement added, but “thankfully, no human casualties have been reported”.

Covering a total of 22,935 sq km (8,855 sq miles), Etosha National Park is one of the largest in Africa. Some 200,000 tourists visit the nature reserve every year, according to the government.

It boasts a total of 114 mammal species and attract hundreds of migratory birds including flamingos.

Experts say wildfires occur naturally in arid savannah and believe occasional wildfires are a necessary part of keeping ecosystems healthy – provided they are managed closely.

The fire poses a significant threat to the biodiversity, wildlife and livelihood of the communities in the affected areas. Approximately 30% of the grazing in the Park has been destroyed by the fire. Arial imagery will be undertaken to determine the extent of the spread of the fire and the area destroyed.