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17:07, 02-Apr-2019
SW China forest fire: Work to remove embers underway
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A fire that engulfed a mountainous area in Liangshan in China's southwestern Sichuan Province has been completely contained, with officers cleaning up the embers on Tuesday, local authorities said.
The fire broke out at around 6 p.m. BJT on March 30, killing 30 people who became trapped after a sudden change in wind direction created a "huge fireball."
All of the victims have been identified, including 27 people from the fire department as well as one local forestry official, one forestry staffer and a villager.
During a press conference on Tuesday, local officials paid tribute to those who lost their lives.
Over 600 people have been dispatched for fighting and rescue work, and five helicopters are involved in the operation, said Tang Yi, an official from local work safety supervision team.
Twenty-three bodies of the victims have been transferred to Xichang City, capital of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.
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