BBC News Online
August 18, 2006

At least 18 million people have been affected by China’s worst drought in 50 years, Xinhua says. Worst hit is the southwestern region of Chongqing, where it has not rained for more than 70 days and two-thirds of the rivers have dried up.

At least 18 million people have been affected by China’s worst drought in 50 years, according to the state news agency Xinhua. The south-western region of Chongqing has been worst hit, but areas of Sichuan and Liaoning are also affected. In Chongqing there has been no rain for more than 70 days, and two-thirds of the rivers have dried up, Xinhua said. Residents in some mountain villages are having to walk up to 2km (1.25 miles) to get water. … The Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs said on Thursday that in 2006, China had faced its most severe natural disasters for six years. By 15 August this year, natural disasters had killed 2,006 people, affected more than 316m others and caused economic losses of 160bn yuan ($20bn), the ministry estimated, according to Xinhua.