Drought hits southwest China

Published: March. 23, 2007 at 4:10 PM

CHENGDU, China, March 23 (UPI) -- A drought in Sichuan Province in China has become so severe that residents in the worst-hit areas are having their drinking water delivered by truck.

The provincial governor, Jiang Jufeng, said at an emergency meeting Friday that the drought has cost almost 300 million yuan ($38 million) so far, Xinhua, the official government news agency, reported.

He said that 5.5 million people and 6.3 million head of livestock are affected by severe water shortages. Water is being trucked in for household use and irrigation.

Rainfall in February totaled a fraction of an inch in most of the province and no significant downpours are forecast through the end of March.

Guizhou, Hainan, and northeastern Liaoning in southwest China are also affected by the drought.

© 2007 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
Jockstrip: The world as we know it. (24 min)
Your Daily Horoscope
The almanac
UPI Sports Calendar for Tuesday, Nov. 24
Hiring rivals' workers can be an advantage
NBA: Los Angeles Clippers 91, Minnesota 87
Tea may help control blood sugar
fark
The more germs a child is exposed to during early childhood, the better their immune system in later...
Kirk Camerowned
Photoshop this hypno-gizmo
Nearly six-in-ten Mexicans say living in the U.S. is much better than back in Old Mexico. Lou Dobbs'...
Charges dropped against dad who drove a drunken intruder away from his wife and young kids... with...
The Public Option, which was alive, then dead, then alive, then dead, then alive, then dead, then...