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Hundreds of thousands suffer water shortage in NE China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-08-15 09:58

SHENYANG: More than 362,500 people in northeast China's Liaoning province are suffering from drinking water shortage due to an ongoing drought, local officials said Saturday.

The flood control and drought relief headquarters in Liaoning said the daily water shortage is 101,200 tons, causing a drinking water shortage for 362,500 people and 108,700 heads of livestock. The northwestern part of the province is the worst affected.

Related readings:  Flooding, drought may come in wake of typhoon  160,000 people suffer water shortage as drought hits NE China  Drought plagues China as downpour hits south  Tibet hit with worst drought in decades  China urged to step up flood, drought prevention

The drought also hits crops on nearly 15 million hectares in northwest Liaoning, accounting for 31 percent of the total farmland in the province.

The temperature of Chaoyang City in western Liaoning hit 40.8 degrees. The average figure for western Liaoning is 38 degrees Celsius.

The hot weather may be mitigated this weekend, according to the local weather forecast.

The Liaoning provincial government has invested 112 million yuan ($16.4 million) in drought relief.

More than 550,000 people joined in drought relief work in Liaoning.

Since June, the drought has plagued north China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Innner Mongolia, Shanxi, Liaoning ang Jilin provinces.