19 Dead in Sichuan, China Fire... 18 Are Firefighters

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] A large wildfire in Sichuan Province, China, has resulted in 19 deaths. Among them, 18 were firefighters dispatched to extinguish the fire.

According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency on the 31st, a fire broke out at 3 p.m. the previous day in Lushan, Xichang City, Sichuan Province. Fire authorities received news around 1:30 a.m. that firefighters who had been fighting the wildfire were suddenly engulfed by flames due to a sudden change in wind direction. Subsequent search operations found 18 firefighters and one local guide dead.

Sichuan firefighting authorities have dispatched about 800 firefighters from cities within the province, including Chengdu and Deyang, to the scene to attempt to extinguish the wildfire. Helicopters have also been deployed, and Xichang City mobilized more than 700 residents to assist in firefighting efforts. Fire authorities have evacuated residents within a 5 km radius of the wildfire site and are focusing on containing the flames around hazardous areas such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) filling stations on the mountainside.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.