Thousands battle forest fire in southwest China

ANKARA

Thousands are battling a massive forest fire in southwest China with no casualties reported so far, according to state media on Sunday.

The fire that broke out on Friday in the Jinning district of Kunming city, the capital of southwestern Yunnan province, has affected over 2,300 people, Beijing-based Xinhua News reported, citing local authorities.

Firefighters backed by helicopters and excavators are struggling to put out the blaze.