Over 700 firefighters are battling a massive forest fire that erupted on Friday afternoon in Baizi Village, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, located in southwest China’s Sichuan Province. The blaze intensified on Saturday afternoon due to high winds, complicating firefighting efforts.
Local authorities reported that the fire continues to rage, with thick smoke engulfing the mountainous region. Seven helicopters have been deployed to assist in combating the flames from the air, while over 400 additional emergency responders are on their way to support containment operations.
A total of 735 residents have been safely evacuated as the local government issued a level-4 emergency response and dispatched a specialized work team to the scene. No casualties have been reported so far.
Despite the severity of the fire, a photovoltaic power station in the vicinity remains unaffected. However, communication with a nearby hydroelectric station has been interrupted, raising concerns about potential impacts on local power supplies.
In response to the ongoing situation, a section of a highway passing through the area has been temporarily closed to ensure the safety of travelers and to facilitate the movement of emergency vehicles.
Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and are urging residents to stay away from the affected areas. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
