Bush forest fires in a small Tibetan county that started on
midday Sunday have not been?fully controlled by Thursday after
a few days of rescue work.
Strong winds, varied and dangerous topography, no water sources
within two kilometers, -- all have?made the rescue work
especially difficult, according to a local rescue team.
The fires broke out at 12:50 PM Sunday in bushes of Tingri
County in Xigaze, at the foot of Mount Qomolangma, or the
Everest.
Fire flames were put out on Thursday after two days of fighting,
but the gales were strong enough to revive any sparkles in the
forests, according to the rescue team.
The fires, involving 15 kilometers of forests in length, are
about four kilometers away from the virgin forests in a natural
reserve around Mount Qomolangma.
(Xinhua News Agency January 6, 2006)
