2.64 mn people short of drinking water in southwest China

More than 2.5 million people have been reeling under drinking water crisis in southwest China due to a lingering drought, local officials said today.

About 15.6 million people in 1,236 towns of 81 counties and districts have been affected by the drought since July, with 2.64 million lacking drinking water in Guizhou Province, state-run news agency Xinhua quoted local officials as saying.

The drought has caused economic losses of USD 1.39 billion, according to initial calculations.

While 1.23 million hectares of farmland have been affected, about 1.2 million cattle lack drinking water.

The provincial civil affairs department has allocated 98.75 million yuan for relief efforts.
 

Although rain occurred in southern parts of the province yesterday and on Thursday, it was far from enough to relieve it.

The drought will continue next week, according to provincial meteorological station.