2,800 battling Yunnan forest fire

KUNMING - Over 2,800 people are working to put out a forest fire that raged for the fifth days on Saturday in southwest China's Yunnan province, local authorities said.

Aided by lingering drought and strong winds, the fire has swept through 200 hectares of forests in Lufeng County in Chuxiong Yi autonomous prefecture since it broke out on Tuesday, said the county government in a statement.

More than 2,800 firefighters and four helicopters have been mobilized to contain the fire, the statement said, adding that the fire has been effectively controlled.

No casuality has been reported so far. The economic losses are being assessed.