Drought hits southwest China

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.