Picture taken on May 14, 2004 shows the fire site in the Laru wetland in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. No casualty has been reported. Fire fighters took near three hours to put out the fire at 5:30 p.m. in the Laru wetland dubbed as the world's highest and largest urban natural wetland.
Police detained two illegal fishermen, who were suspected of ignite the dry reed carelessly.
Workers of the wetland natural reserve administration found blaze rising among reed around 3 p.m. on Friday when they were patrolling around the reserve. They immediately informed the police, said Qoizhag, head of the administration.
The fire was put out at 5:40 p.m. and about one-tenth of wetland was burnt, said Qoizhag.
Police detained two illegal fishermen, who were suspected of ignite the dry reed carelessly.
Dubbed as the world's highest and largest urban natural wetland, the Laru wetland, at an elevation of 3,645 meters, is located at the regional capital Lhasa, covering an area of 6.2 square kilometers and accounting for 11.7 percent of the city's acreage.
The wetland is of great importance on moderating and improving the city's climate by absorbing 78,800 tons of carbon dioxide and adding 57,300 tons of oxygen every year, said Qoizhag.
(Xinhua News Agency May 15, 2004)
