North China Water Shortages Worsen

More than 4.5 million people are now left short of drinking water as the severe drought in the north spreads, Xinhua reports, while a new hot dry spell to the south threatens new water shortages in Hunan and Hubei in central China. More than four million head of livestock are at risk and 133 million mu (8.7 hectares) of crops have been effected by the worst drought in 60 decades. In Liaoning, one of the worst hit provinces, half of all arable land has dried up,