National flags flew at half-staff in Xichang, capital of the Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture in Sichuan province, on Thursday, a day of mourning for the 30 lives lost battling a raging forest fire.
The State Council, China's Cabinet, declared Thursday a day to honor the 30 people who were confirmed on Monday to have died in the blaze — 27 members of the Xichang fire department, a local forestry official, a forestry staff member and a villager. They ranged in age from 19 to 49 years old.
A 50-year-old forestry official, who was missing in the wildfire, was reported on Thursday afternoon to have been killed.
President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang, Vice-Premier Han Zheng and other leaders sent wreaths to express their condolence.
The fire broke out on Saturday in Muli county, Xichang, and was brought under control on Tuesday. The cause is as of yet unknown.
