China drought causes water shortages for 18 million

SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Hot weather and a severe drought have
left over 18 million people short of drinking water, damaged
millions of hectares of cropland and reduced water supplies for
millions of livestock, Xinhua news agency said on Saturday.

The Sichuan basin, including the municipality of Chongqing
in southwest China, is suffering its worst drought in over 50
years. Low rainfall and high temperatures have also hit a swath
of central China.

By Thursday, 18 million people in fifteen Chinese provinces
and regions were suffering drinking water shortages caused by
the drought, according to Chinese Ministry of Water Resources.
More than 130 million hectares of cropland and more than 17
million livestock were affected.

“The severe drought will not ease up and is very likely to
get worse,” Xinhua said, quoting a ministry statement.

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has
allocated 100 million yuan ($12.5 million) to drought-hit
areas, Xinhua said.