Drought eased off in southwest China this month while people
went thirsty in the north, said sources with the China
Meteorological Administration yesterday.
Rainfall has relieved widespread, prolonged drought in southwest
China's Sichuan, Chongqing, Yunnan and Guizhou, but water shortages remain in some
areas following last year's severe drought.
In most parts of north China, monthly precipitation was no more
than 10 millimeters, 30 to 80 percent less than the same period of
last year.
Drought is affecting an area of 1.35 million hectares in north
China's Hebei Province, where 500,000 people are
having to cope with drinking water shortages.
More than 200 small reservoirs and 50,000 motor-pumped wells
have run dry in the province.
In Shangdong, 187,000 hectares of farmland are
suffering from drought.
(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2007)
