Serious Drought Along China's Yangtze River

[http://english.sohu.com/20000529/100007.html]

(26 May 2000) Since the start of this spring, most parts of northern China around the Yangzte River have been plagued by a severe drought. As of May 16, the drought had affected a total of 190 million mu (31.35 million acres) of farmland, and 6.9 million mu (1.14 million acres) of crops had simply dried out, the May 22 Huasheng Bao (Hua Sheng Overseas Chinese Newspaper) reported.

Meanwhile, 15.6 million local residents and 13.1 million farm animals are facing temporary shortages of drinking water.

According to Chinese agricultural and water-conservancy experts, a lack of rainfall caused the drought, which then was worsened by frequent occurrences of high winds, according to the newspaper.