Millions in China face water shortage

A drought in southwestern China has left millions of people facing a drinking water shortage, authorities said Monday. The worst hit is Guizhou province, where 5.47 million people are going thirsty, while in neighboring Yunnan province, at least 1.5 million are without adequate drinking water, China Daily reported. In Guizhou, people in some of the villages have been forced to leave their homes because of the shortage, China Daily reported. The article carried a photograph showing a farmer sitting at the bottom of well that has dried up. The drought also has emptied 479 reservoirs and dried up 349 rivers in the province, the report said. Rainfall this year is only a third of the annual average. There also have been reports of farmers complaining of losing their crops due to the drought. "I've never left the village before in my life, but the family can't survive now the drought has destroyed all our rice and corn," one village woman said. Provincial relief authorities said the drought, which started in late June, has affected 87 of the province's 88 counties. In Guiding County, authorities said more than 90 percent of rice and corn, the main crops, have been blighted. "Farmers who grow tobacco at least have something to exchange for food, but those who only grow rice and corn have to find other solutions," a county official said. The government is taking several steps to help the people, including transporting drinking water to them. Provincial weather bureau warned over the weekend the drought could last until the middle of September. In Yunnan province, high temperatures and the drought have dried up more than 60 rivers and nearly 300 reservoirs, the report said.