A FOREST fire that broke out Sunday in a Tibetan-inhabited prefecture in Yunnan Province was raging unchecked, fire fighting headquarters said yesterday.

The fire broke out at 5:15 p.m. Sunday near Luoji Village in Shangrila County in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Deqen, a spokesman said.

The blaze had burned for more than 40 hours in an area covered with dense forest. Because of poor communications, the total area affected could not be immediately confirmed.

More than 1,000 people, including police officers, firefighters and local villagers, are fighting the fire.

Investigation into the cause of the fire is under way.

(Xinhua)