Skip navigation
Slideshow
  Parched
China declares an emergency in eight provinces suffering a serious drought.

more photos


Current DateTime: 02:36:17 24 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 24355697
  • Runway Angels

      The superbowl of fashion shows, models walk down the runway at the 2009 Victoria's Secret Show.

  • Smartphone Guide

      Here's a need-to-know guide to nine devices, based on features, price, network and platform.

  • Wines for the Holidays

      Not quite sure what wine to pair with Turkey or Creme Brulee? Our experts do.

China drought leaves 4 million without water
By: The Associated Press | 05 Feb 2009 | 10:07 AM ET
Text Size
Government declares emergency as millions of acres of crops wither

BEIJING - China declared an emergency Thursday in eight provinces suffering a serious drought that has left nearly 4 million people without proper drinking water and is threatening millions of acres of crops.

The Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief posted a notice on its Web site declaring the situation a level-two emergency on the country's four-level scale. It called it a drought "rarely seen in history."

The official Xinhua News Agency reported that President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao had ordered all-out efforts to fight the drought at a Cabinet meeting Thursday. It said the government had allocated $58.5 million for relief work.

Uneven distribution of water
China suffers from an uneven distribution of its water resources. Weather patterns in the arid north and flood-prone south cost the government tens of millions of dollars in lost productivity each year.

The latest drought began in November and has affected 24 million acres of crops, one-third of them seriously, Xinhua said. Most of the hardest-hit provinces were in northern China, with several in the east.

In recent days, news broadcasts have shown dry, cracked farm fields and crops withering in the ground.

Wheat-growing areas threatened
Almost half of the wheat-growing areas in the eight provinces — Hebei, Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Henan, Shandong, Shaanxi and Gansu — were threatened, Xinhua said, while nearly 4 million people lacked proper drinking water.

The official China Daily newspaper, citing meteorological authorities in Henan, said it was the worst drought in Henan since 1951 and that the province, a major supplier of winter wheat, had gone 105 consecutive days without rain.

But some relief may be in sight. Weather forecasts call for rain and snow in some of the stricken areas beginning Saturday.

More on China

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Tools:
Print EmailAdd This share icon
  • digg share

CNBC HIGHLIGHTS

  • The show attracts a big TV audience every year, but this year it may take on even more importance.
  • …you'll want to be prepared. Tips for getting the most out of the post-Thanksgiving shopping frenzy.
  • Congressman Ron Paul explains to Squawk Box why he’s pushing legislation to audit the Federal Reserve.
  • CNBC’s Phil LeBeau took a test drive of GM’s flagship electric car. Here’s what he thought of the Volt.
  • The energy company Power Efficiency is building tools that regulate the power electric motors use.
  • CNBC’s technology reporter Jim Goldman guides you through the best gadgets to buy this holiday season.
ADD COMMENTS
Remaining characters


Current DateTime: 01:19:40 24 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29778428

Current DateTime: 01:02:05 24 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29779196

Current DateTime: 01:09:37 24 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29779199

Current DateTime: 01:02:06 24 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29779198
  Data is a real-time snapshot  *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes
Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis

© 2009 CNBC, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.
A Division of NBC Universal
Thomson ReutersThomson Reuters