30 people killed in Sichuan forest fire

Thirty people were confirmed dead while fighting a forest fire that broke out Saturday in Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture in Southwest China's Sichuan province, the PLA Daily reported.

At about 6 pm on Saturday, a forest fire broke out in Lier village in Muli county. The fire point was at an altitude of about 3,800 meters, with complex terrain, a steep valley, and inconvenient traffic and communications, according to a statement by the prefecture's information office released on Monday.

Local authorities initiated an emergency plan immediately, with 689 people sent to put out the fire, the statement said.

On Sunday afternoon, the firefighters suddenly encountered a deflagration of the mountain fire while moving due to the sudden change of wind direction and force, and 30 lost contact, it said.

Two army helicopters, carrying a rescue team of 15 people and relief supplies, were dispatched Monday morning to the scene for rescue, according to the military.

A latest report by the People's Liberation Army Daily said rescuers made contact with two missing firefighters and confirmed that 30 people have been killed.

A release from the Ministry of Emergency Management said the ministry immediately initiated an emergency response after the fire broke out. Vice-Minister of Emergency Management Huang Ming held a video meeting with local officials, and a rescue work team led by Vice-Minister Fu Jianhua went to the site that night.

Firefighting operations are still underway.