Dharamshala: Forest fires have broken out in the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region, reported state controlled media, China Daily News earlier today.
One fire has been raging since Sunday noon in southwest Tibet, reportedly only 500 meters away from a school in Dzayul (Ch: Chayou) County in Kongpo (Ch: Nyingchi Prefecture) eastern Tibet. According to the report, about 1,000 Chinese soldiers and civilians have been mobilized to the region for fire-fighting efforts.
The fire has reportedly already spread over 26 hectares in the forest, and is continuing to spread due to windy and dry local weather conditions.
The other fire, also started at Sunday noon, was in Chongqing Municpality in the north of Tibet and was put out with the aid of 2,000 policemen and firefighters by Sunday midnight. The fire reportedly destroyed at least 20 hectares of forest in Dadukou District.
No casualties have yet been reported, as local residents were evacuated in time to avoid the fire, reported Xinhua. No other information was given by the report, including the cause of the fire, which the report said was still being investigated by officials.
