Downpours relieve the drought but flooding adds to torment
Source: Xinhua |
June 7, 2011, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
HEAVY rain has relieved the effects of a lingering drought in several provinces in central and east China, but it caused floods that have displaced over 25,000 people in the region.
Before rain started to fall on Friday, more than 3.5 million people were dealing with water shortages caused by the drought, according to a statement issued by the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.
Now, only 2.15 million people are still being affected by water shortages, as the heavy rain has refilled reservoirs in the region.
The total area of farmland affected by the drought dropped by 1.49 million hectares to hit 2.3 million hectares by yesterday, the website said.
Jiangxi Province reported 80 millimeters of rain between Friday and yesterday.
Jiangsu Province, on the other hand, has continued to suffer, with a mere 3 millimeters falling during the same period.
Drought-hit provinces will be "basically relieved from the affects of the drought this month" as the rainy season begins, Zheng Guoguang, head of the China Meteorological Administration, was quoted as saying in a report on China National Radio yesterday.
He said local authorities should not slacken their efforts to fight the drought, as water levels remain low in many of central China's major lakes, rivers and reservoirs.
A recent administration forecast said that heavy rains would lash parts of eastern and southern China from yesterday to tomorrow.
The office also said that continuous downpours have lifted water levels of rivers in the provinces of Hunan, Jiangxi and Guizhou, with water in some areas rising beyond safe levels and triggering floods in some areas of Hunan and Guizhou.
About 1.22 million people in four cities and prefectures of Hunan have been affected by the floodwaters, with 27,700 people relocated, the office said.
The administration has ordered local authorities in drought-hit regions to prepare for flooding while continuing their work to relieve the effects of the drought.
Before rain started to fall on Friday, more than 3.5 million people were dealing with water shortages caused by the drought, according to a statement issued by the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.
Now, only 2.15 million people are still being affected by water shortages, as the heavy rain has refilled reservoirs in the region.
The total area of farmland affected by the drought dropped by 1.49 million hectares to hit 2.3 million hectares by yesterday, the website said.
Jiangxi Province reported 80 millimeters of rain between Friday and yesterday.
Jiangsu Province, on the other hand, has continued to suffer, with a mere 3 millimeters falling during the same period.
Drought-hit provinces will be "basically relieved from the affects of the drought this month" as the rainy season begins, Zheng Guoguang, head of the China Meteorological Administration, was quoted as saying in a report on China National Radio yesterday.
He said local authorities should not slacken their efforts to fight the drought, as water levels remain low in many of central China's major lakes, rivers and reservoirs.
A recent administration forecast said that heavy rains would lash parts of eastern and southern China from yesterday to tomorrow.
The office also said that continuous downpours have lifted water levels of rivers in the provinces of Hunan, Jiangxi and Guizhou, with water in some areas rising beyond safe levels and triggering floods in some areas of Hunan and Guizhou.
About 1.22 million people in four cities and prefectures of Hunan have been affected by the floodwaters, with 27,700 people relocated, the office said.
The administration has ordered local authorities in drought-hit regions to prepare for flooding while continuing their work to relieve the effects of the drought.
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