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Severe drought still lingers in north China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-16 09:36

BEIJING  -- North China's severe drought is still threatening 104 million mu (6.9 million hectares) of farmland in north China, the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said Sunday.

Related readings:  China expects more rain to relieve severe drought  Official: grain security sound despite drought  China sends third air force freighter to make rain in drought area

The drought-affected farmland dropped only 6.41 million mu, compared to a day earlier, although the country is going all out to fight the worst drought in decades, including artificial rain.

Among the total affected farmland, 30.33 million mu was seriously threatened by the drought, though 940,000 mu less than a day earlier, and 4.21 million mu had dried out, according to the office.

In the meantime, 4.68 million people and 2.5 million heads of livestock are still facing water shortage.

About 88.42 million mu of winter wheat crops are suffering from the drought, 5.88 million mu less than a day earlier, in provinces of Hebei, Shanxi, Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Shandong, Shaanxi, and Gansu.

The respite was limited as there was no effective rainfall in the drought-hit winter wheat growing provinces Saturday, although 5.11 million mu of wheat farmland was watered by irrigation facilities.