Two forest fires raging for four days have forced the evacuation
of 146 people in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, local forestry sources
said on Thursday.
Nearly 6,000 firemen and forest rangers are fighting fires that
broke out last Sunday at Galashan Forest Farm in Heihe City and
Kanduhe Forest Farm in the Greater Hinggan Mountains.
120 residents from Beijiang Town, Huma County, and 26 from
Galashan Forest Farm were evacuated on Wednesday night. No
casualties have been reported.
Arrangements are being made to evacuate more people.
The fires spread quickly because of strong winds and dry
weather, but it is not known exactly how much land has been
damaged, according to provincial fire control headquarters.
Zhang Zuoji, governor of Heilongjiang Province, ordered local
authorities to put the fires under control, and made an impassioned
plea for them to go all out to prevent new fires and ensure the
safety of local residents.
(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2006)