About 2,200 people are fighting a forest fire in Tibet Autonomous Region which started on Thursday, government sources said on Friday.

The fire started around 3:30 p.m. Thursday in Nyingchi County, said the county government.

The fire was caused by a short circuit of power cables caused by fallen trees in strong winds.

Strong gales, steep locations and dry ground have hindered firefighters' efforts to curb the spread of the fire, the government said.

The extent of the damage is still being assessed.

(Xinhua News Agency January 26, 2008)