Flags were lowered to half-mast on Thursday in Xichang City and Muli County in the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, to mourn the 30 lives lost in the battle of the recent forest fire. 

A total of 30 people, including 27 people from the Xichang fire department as well as one local forestry official, one forestry staffer and a villager were confirmed dead on Monday.

The youngest one was a 19-year-old firefighter.

A firefighter hugs his teammate after returning to the Xichang branch of the Liangshan forest fire brigade. (Photo: Knews)

They got trapped and later killed in the forest by a "huge fireball" which had formed on Sunday due to a sudden change in wind direction. The fire initially started on Saturday.  

Over 600 people have been dispatched for firefighting and rescue work, and five helicopters are involved in the operation, said Tang Yi, an official from the local work safety supervision team.

(Compiled by Bai Yuanqi)