The forest fire in Xichang City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, March 31, 2020 (Xinhua/Wang Xi)
CHENGDU, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Nineteen people died while battling a forest fire in southwest China's Sichuan Province.
The Latest: (all times local)
-- 12:51, March 31
Nineteen people died while battling a forest fire in southwest China's Sichuan Province, local authorities said Tuesday.
The victims include 18 firefighters and a local forest farm worker who led the way for the firefighters. They were trapped in fire due to a sudden change in wind direction at around 2 a.m. on Tuesday.
At 1:30 a.m., 22 people were reported missing. At around 7 a.m., three were found and sent to hospital. They are now in stable condition. The 19 victims were later found.
The fire started on a local farm at 3:51 p.m. Monday and quickly spread to nearby mountains due to strong winds, according to the information office of the city of Xichang.
As of midnight on Monday, the burned area had exceeded 1,000 hectares and around 80 hectares of forest were destroyed.
So far, a total of 2,044 people have been dispatched to put out the fire and over 1,200 local residents nearby evacuated.
-- 11:13, March 31
Nineteen people died while battling a forest fire in southwest China's Sichuan Province, local authorities said Tuesday.
The victims include 18 firefighters and a local forest farm worker who led the way for the firefighters. They were trapped in fire due to a sudden change in wind direction at around 2 a.m. on Tuesday.
The fire started on a local farm at 3:51 p.m. Monday and quickly spread to nearby mountains due to strong winds, according to the information office of the city of Xichang.
Over 300 professional firefighters and 700 militiamen were sent to the rescue on Monday.
The forest fire in Xichang City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, March 31, 2020 (Xinhua/Wang Xi)
-- 22:38, March 30
Thick smoke enveloped a city in southwest China's Sichuan Province after forest fires broke out Monday afternoon, local firefighting brigade said.
The fire started on a local farm at 3:51 p.m. and quickly spread to nearby mountains due to strong winds, according to the information office of the city of Xichang.
Over 300 professional firefighters and another 700 militiamen were sent to the rescue. An emergency evacuation was initiated. No casualties have been reported.
Another 885 firefighters from other cities in the province have been dispatched along with 142 fire engines, six remote water supply systems and extensive firefighting equipment to Xichang.
Besides assisting evacuation, forces have also been deployed to protect key places and areas. Drones have also been used to monitor the development of the fire.
-- 20:57, March 30
Over 1,000 people have been sent to put out a forest fire that broke out in southwest China's Sichuan Province Monday afternoon, local authorities said.
The fire started on a local farm at 3:51 p.m. and quickly spread to nearby mountains due to strong winds, according to the information office of the city of Xichang.
Over 300 professional firefighters and another 700 militiamen were sent to the rescue. An emergency evacuation was initiated. No casualties have been reported. ■