Torrential rain over the past two days have cut off water and
power supplies in a northwest China county that is one of the few
habitats of the critically-endangered giant pandas.
The fourth flood to ravage Foping county, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, this year also caused three
injuries, left one person missing and forced more than 4,000 to
evacuate, the county government said.
Two local residents walk in
running mud-rock flows in Foping County, northwest China's Shaanxi
Province August 30, 2007. Heavy rainstorms battered the city
Wednesday, causing floods and disrupting water and power
supply.
It estimated the county had suffered at least 50 million yuan
(US$6.4 million) in direct economic losses.
The downpour on Wednesday and Thursday, averaging more than
180mm, triggered a string of mountain torrents, mud-rock flows and
landslides in the suburbs of the county, said a spokesman.
Most streets in the county proper were drowned, with pools of
water and slush measuring more than one meter deep.
Water and power supplies in the county were cut off. Maintenance
work is continuing on Friday.
Altogether 13,000 people in the county were affected as the
downpour drowned 470 hectares of cropland and flooded more than
5,000 homes, the government said.
Rescuers are still searching for a 58-year-old woman who was
reported missing in the flood. Family members suspected she was
buried in the ruins of collapsed houses.
Nothing is known as yet of the rain's impact on the giant
pandas' community in Foping County, a nature reserve in the Qinling
Mountains and home to about 273 giant pandas.
A truck moves along in
running mud-rock flows in Foping County, northwest China's Shaanxi
Province August 30, 2007. Heavy rainstorms battered the county
Wednesday, causing floods and disrupting water and power
supply.
(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2007)
