BEIJING: As many as 30 firefighters have died in the course of containing a blaze high in the rugged forested mountains of western China, one of the worst disasters for the emergency services in recent years.
Open flames had been extinguished and only a few areas continued to emit smoke with no further threat of the fire spreading, state media said.
The bodies of the dead firefighters were brought to the town of Xichang in Sichuan province, while three helicopters had brought in reinforcements to extinguish the blaze.
Changing winds Sunday apparently trapped the 27 firefighters and three helpers who were battling the blaze in a remote area at an altitude of 3,800 meters (12,500 feet), according to the Ministry of Emergency Management. Despite attempts at a rescue, all 30 were confirmed dead on Monday afternoon.
China has been battling forest fires in recent weeks in various parts of the vast country, including on the outskirts of Beijing, fed by dry weather and high winds across many northern areas.
(Agencies)
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