At least 24 firefighters were killed while struggling to douse a forest's fire in mountains of Western Sichuan province of China, said Chinese military on Monday, reports FOX News.

The Chinese military on Sunday said, "abrupt change of wind direction" caused the fire to spread fast.

Around 689 firefighters were sent to the scene after the fire erupted at an altitude of over 3,800 meters above sea level.

Two helicopters carrying medical staff were dispatched after contact with the team was lost.

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