China’s Impending Ecological Disaster?- Severe Drought In China

From Xinhuanet BEIJING, April 29 (Xinhua) — A lingering spring drought in south China has left 1.09 million people and 380,000 livestock short of drinking water, the nation’s drought relief authority said on Friday. The drought has also affected more than 1.33 million hectares of farmland in seven provinces including Jiangxi, Hunan and Hubei, which are major grain-producing areas, according to the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters. South China has experienced 50 percent less rainfall than usual since the start of this year, which has dried up major rivers and reservoirs in the area. The drought has also hampered spring harvest efforts, the headquarters said.