Sichuan forest fire: A timeline of events since flames broke out

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01:29

The final efforts to extinguish the forest fire in southwest China's Sichuan Province have been launched this morning. Local authorities say all of the open flames have been finally contained. Firefighters, aided by helicopters, are still searching the affected area to make sure the fire does not restart.

The blaze broke out on Saturday, leaving 27 firefighters and three locals dead. Now let's re-trace the events since then.

Flames roared and soon devoured 20 hectares of terrain in a forest, in southwestern Sichuan. The blaze raged in an area over 3,800 meters above sea level. And the terrain is complex, in a mountainous area with deep valleys.

Forest fire is burning in Muli County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, March 30, 2019. / VCG Photo

Nearly 700 people were dispatched to put out the inferno. The fire claimed 30 lives of their colleagues, as an outburst of flames caused by a sudden change in wind direction trapped 27 firefighters and three helpers. "It took only five minutes and the firefighters were engulfed in flames," said a local resident.

But the firefighting efforts didn't stop. "Two helicopters, carrying 15 medical experts, will arrive at the local airport this afternoon," Liu Naiwen, a pilot from PLA Land and Air Forces Brigade told CCTV. Liu was sent to help put out the flames.

Less than 72 hours after the fire was reported, all of the open flames were extinguished. "The open fire has been completely extinguished and the fire site has been fully controlled," Tang Yi, a local official briefed media.

Helicopter is helping to put out the fire, April 2, 2019. / VCG Photo

Hundreds of firefighters are still working at the scene to make sure there're no further threats of the fire spreading. There are about 140,000 people living in Muli County where the flames burned. Forest covers more than half of the county. But no other residents' casualties were reported from the disaster.

The provincial government of Sichuan has established a team to investigate the cause of the fire as well as the firefighting and rescue efforts. The team will also consult with experts to understand the explosive blaze.