At least 26 firefighters died after hundreds were sent to tackle a forest fire in remote mountains in southwest China’s Sichuan Province at the weekend, authorities said on Monday.
Nearly 700 firefighters were deployed to battle the blaze, which broke out on Saturday on steep terrain in Muli County, according to the ministry of emergency management.
Authorities lost contact with 30 firefighters on Sunday after a sudden change in wind direction ignited a “huge fireball”.
Rescuers have found 26 bodies and are looking for the other missing crew.