HOHHOT, May 26 (Xinhua) -- A fire suspected to be caused by lightning strike on Thursday noon has burned about 20 square kilometers of forest in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, North China, rescuers said on Friday.

    More than 2,000 people have joined the efforts to extinguish the fire that has been raging in the Sangenhe Forest Farm between Mianduhe and Urqihan towns since Thursday, according to rescuers.

    Strong wind has made it difficult to put out the fire, according an official with the Yakeshi city government.

    The official said that the forest area has experienced drought since the beginning of this year. The fire might have been caused by frequent lightning that hit the region recently, according to the official. Enditem