2,000 firefighters battle east China forest fire

More than 2,000 firefighters are struggling to contain a forest fire in east China's Shandong province.

The fire broke out at about 3:00 pm on Thursday in a forest in the coastal city of Weihai and quickly spread with the help of a strong wind, the city government said in a statement. It is raging on several fronts totaling 7 km in length.

The firefighting efforts, which also involve helicopters, have been complicated by the heavy wind packing a speed of up to 61 km per hour, it said.

Roads near the fire have been closed and some water and electricity supplies have been disrupted. The smoke has reduced visibility in neighboring urban areas.

For those who could be affected, the government said it has designated several schools and exhibition centers as emergency shelters.