Panda reserves bear brunt of floods in Gansu   

地震暴洪叠加致甘肃部分大熊猫保护区受灾

甘肃岷县漳县6.6级地震及地震前后持续多发的暴雨洪灾，距地震较近的7个大熊猫保护区中，阿夏自然保护区、插岗梁自然保护区和白水江保护区造成较大影响，其他保护区影响均相对较小。 [查看全文]

Lanzhou (ECNS) -- Panda reserves around the quake-hit counties in Gansu province have suffered various degrees of damage, according to the provincial forestry department on Wednesday.

Floods caused by consistent torrential rains have led to ground depressions and housing fractures in the natural protection area located near the epicenter of a 6.6 earthquake which jolted the juncture of Zhang Xian county and Min Xian county on July 22.

Among all of the seven panda reserves near the epicenter, Bai Shuijiang Biosphere Reserve, Cha Gangliang Reserve, and Axia Natural Reserve are the worst hit.

According to official statistics, the direct economic losses caused by the quake and torrential rains in the three reserves reached 21.6 million yuan (3.5 million US dollars).

The flooring area of houses damaged by the earthquake reached 496.55 square meters in the Axia Natural Reserve.

Houses, roads, and reserve facilities at the Cha Gangliang Reserve and Bai Shuijiang Biosphere Reserve have also been damaged.