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Drought hits China's Yunnan province
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E-mail CNTV, February 20, 2012
Now let's turn to the drought in Southwest China's Yunnan Province. Official data show that 20 million hectares of areas were affected by medium or above level drought. As the drought continues in the province, let's find more about its causes.
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According to latest figures from provincial civil affairs authorities, about 6.31 million people in 91 counties in the province have been affected by the drought as of Feb. 16. |
In Yunnan, drought has taken full control of the central and eastern parts of the province.
Among the one hundred and twelve monitoring stations, nine have recorded the highest level of drought level, while sixty have seen severe levels.
Including areas that have seen medium levels of drought, the province has suffered an increase of eighty from half a month ago.
Zhang Cunjie with China Meteorological Administration said: "For three consecutive years, Yunnan has been lacking rainfall. And the rainfall this year has shrunk. As such, the accumulative effects contribute to the heavy drought in the province."
In fact, precipitation over the last three years has seen a dramatic drop.
The province's average rainfall in 2009 was 942.6 millimeters, the least since 1961;
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According to latest figures from provincial civil affairs authorities, about 6.31 million people in 91 counties in the province have been affected by the drought as of Feb. 16. |
In 2011, its rainfall was 958.1 millimeters, the second least since 1961.
And among those affected areas, the middle and east part of the province have seen the worst situation.
Zhang said: "As it becomes warmer, more steam will be produced. And small and medium amounts of rain will be produced. But the rain won't help a lot. Only when the rainy season comes will the drought be alleviated."
Southern part of Sichuan province and southwestern area of Tibet, and the eastern North China Plain are also suffering from drought.
The related departments have been advised to strengthen drought-combating and fire-prevention work.
