Fierce Forest fires kill 94 in China through late April, officials say*

2008-04-29 23:24:02

    BEIJING, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Forest fires killed 94 people and
injured 72 others from Jan. 1 to April 24, an official of the State
Headquarters for Forest Fire Control said in an online interview on Tuesday.

    China had 10,230 forest fires during the period, 45.9 percent more
than the average of the past three years, mainly in areas hit by severe
winter weather. The storms left behind huge amounts of flammable debris.

    More regions had forest fires this year, including the eastern
coastal provinces, the southern Hainan Province, the western
Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and northeastern areas, said the headquarters'
deputy director Lei Jiafu in the interview.

    Lei said 98 percent of the 10,060 forest fires reported in the first
quarter occurred in the south, which was hit by the worst snow storms in
five decades in January and February.

    Lingering drought in the north had also worsened the situation,
while increased fire use in open country during the spring ploughing
season and post-disaster construction increased fire risks, said Lei.

    Most of north China will experience above-average temperatures in
the next 10 days, meaning that forest fire alarm levels will be high
over the upcoming May Day holidays, according to the latest weather
forecast.

    The forest fire headquarters has ordered fire prevention measures to
be stepped up in northeast China and Inner Mongolia, which are facing
the highest spring fire risk in 60 years.