Sichuan Forest Fire: Mourning ceremony held for people killed

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02:26

A remembrance ceremony has been held in Xichang, in southwest China's Sichuan province, to honor the people who were killed this week trying to contain a devastating forest fire. A 50-year-old person today became the 31st person to die from the blaze. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang paid their respects to the fallen firefighters by sending wreaths. CGTN's Tao Yuan reports.

Early morning at the city center - a sea of black and white. The lives of the 27 young firefighters and three local volunteers are honored.

XU ERFENG, POLITICAL DIRECTOR CHINA MINISTRY OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT "The 27 firefighters have been honored as martyrs of the country upon the approval of the Ministry of Emergency Management. They will be given first class honor."

PENG YUXING VICE GOVERNOR OF SICHUAN PROVINCE "The provincial government has approved to honor the three people who helped fight the forest fire as martyrs."

Family members of those killed are left shattered. Thousands grieved, the community came together. Most of the firefighters killed were in their 20s. Two were only teenagers.

"They are very young, really, too young. I'm thinking how their parents must wish them to come home. But they can't."

"I brought my students to attend the farewell ceremony. These heroes sacrificed their lives for our country. My students were moved to tears. It's an education for them."

Those who managed to escape the fire mourned their fallen teammates.

For them, the loss is all too painful.

ZHAO MAOYI XICHANG FOREST FIRE BRIGADE "The last time I looked at the 18-year-old soldier from Class Five, I saw complete loss of hope on his face. Every night, he appears to me in my dreams saying, 'Give me a hand.' His hands are burned ash-black."

TAO YUAN XICHANG "As the community honors the fallen heroes, an investigation is underway to find out what caused the forest fire, and how exactly it took the lives of so many people. Officials believe the firefighters and local helpers were trapped in a fireball when winds suddenly shifted. Tao Yuan, CGTN, Xichang."