August 24, 2009
China drought damages crops, livestock left thirsty
A drought in China's north has damaged crops and left livestock short of drinking water, according to Xinhua news agency.
The drought has caused water shortages for 4.6 million people and 4.1 million head of livestock, Xinhua said, citing an announcement by the national anti-drought administration.
Affected areas stretch from Jilin province in the northeast to the grasslands of Inner Mongolia in the north and the drought is spreading, Xinhua said, citing an administration official, Zhang Xu.
Crops on some 8.7 million hectares of farmland have been damaged, the report said.
