30 people dead in China forest fire

At least 30 people, including 27 firefighters, were killed while battling a huge forest fire in the remote mountains in China's Sichuan province.  

The firefighters were sent to put out the fire which broke out on Saturday, China's official media said.

Local authorities dispatched 689 people to douse the blaze which broke out at an altitude



of about 3,800 meters.

A team sent by the Ministry of Emergency Management has arrived to coordinate the rescue efforts.

Meanwhile, a separate forest fire in the northern province of Shanxi was brought under control yesterday. No casualties were reported, but at least 9,000 people were evacuated.