One fire has been quenched but another is still spreading in two separate virgin forests in southwest China's Tibet region, local sources said on Monday.

 

The forest fire in Zhamu Town, in Bomi County, which began on Thursday, has been extinguished Monday afternoon after five days of efforts by some 3,000 fire fighters, said an official in charge of the fire fighting work.

 

But anther fire in Yi'ong State Geological Park in Tongmai Town, 90 kilometers from Zhamu, is still spreading as strong winds and high temperatures have hampered the fire fighting efforts. The fire broke out on Friday.

 

About 500 policemen, local residents and cadres have been mobilized to control the fire at the park.

 

More fire fighters will be enlisted to quench the raging fire on Tuesday, according to the fire fighting headquarters.

 

No casualties have been reported in the two fires. The causes are also unknown.

 

Tibet experienced its third warm winter in the last seven years, with a temperature rise of nine degrees on the average in some areas.

 

The "roof of the world" reported an average temperature of minus three degrees Celsius between December 2006 and February 2007, up 1.4 degrees from the historical average of minus 4.4 degrees Celsius, according to the regional meteorological bureau.

 

Meanwhile, most parts of Tibet reported a 50-percent decline in rainfall, which measured less than one mm at 17 of the region's 32 meteorological stations between early December and the end of February.

 

(Xinhua news Agency May 8, 2007)