A forest fire that broke out on Sunday in a Tibetan-inhabited prefecture in Yunnan Province still rages unchecked, said the fire fighting headquarters on Tuesday.

The fire began at 5:15 p.m. near Luoji village in Shangrila county of Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Deqen, a spokesman of the headquarters said.

The fire has continued for more than 40 hours in an area covered with luxuriant forests. Due to 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 News Agency April 8, 2008)