Mountain fire erupts northeast of Beijing

A mountain fire suddenly broke out in Beijing's northeast Pinggu district at 1:26 pm on Monday and efforts to put out the fire are still underway, local officials said. No casualties were reported.

Emergency response was activated immediately after the fire broke out in the mountainous area near Jinhaihu town on the northern outskirts of Beijing, according to the local emergency management department. Authorities sent more than 300 firefighters and police officers to fight the fire.

A preliminary police investigation found the fire was caused by a villager cultivating abandoned land; and the suspect is in custody.