One fire has been quenched but another is still spreading in two
separate virgin forests in southwest China's Tibet region, local
sources said on Monday.
The forest fire in Zhamu Town, in Bomi County, which began on
Thursday, has been extinguished Monday afternoon after five days of
efforts by some 3,000 fire fighters, said an official in charge of
the fire fighting work.
But anther fire in Yi'ong State Geological Park in Tongmai Town,
90 kilometers from Zhamu, is still spreading as strong winds and
high temperatures have hampered the fire fighting efforts. The fire
broke out on Friday.
About 500 policemen, local residents and cadres have been
mobilized to control the fire at the park.
More fire fighters will be enlisted to quench the raging fire on
Tuesday, according to the fire fighting headquarters.
No casualties have been reported in the two fires. The causes
are also unknown.
Tibet experienced its third warm winter in the last seven years,
with a temperature rise of nine degrees on the average in some
areas.
The "roof of the world" reported an average temperature of minus
three degrees Celsius between December 2006 and February 2007, up
1.4 degrees from the historical average of minus 4.4 degrees
Celsius, according to the regional meteorological bureau.
Meanwhile, most parts of Tibet reported a 50-percent decline in
rainfall, which measured less than one mm at 17 of the region's 32
meteorological stations between early December and the end of
February.
(Xinhua news Agency May 8, 2007)
