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Central China's Hunan Province hit by most severe drought in 10 years

Sunday, August 4, 2013, 4:50 PM -

Central China's Hunan Province has been hit by the most severe drought in 10 years, causing crop losses and drinking water shortages for more than 1 million people. 

In the city of Wugang, the lingering high temperature aggravated the drought leaving ponds dry, earth cracked and villagers lacking drinking water. 

The only irrigation pond in Emei Village has been dried up for about one month, a big blow to local crops such as rice seedlings, corn and beans. 

Up to 90 percent of the crops are affected or facing total crop loss. 

Local authorities have taken measures to combat the drought. They're digging a well near the dry pool to help local villagers pump water. The project started one month ago but will still require another twenty days before it is complete and ready for use. 

The province is transporting over 3 million kilograms of vegetables every day from neighboring provinces to meet local demand. 

"We actively mobilize more than 300 large vegetable wholesalers to purchase vegetables from the major vegetable bases across the country to supply of five million kilograms per day required to ensure the provincial vegetable supply is not out of stock.," said Liu Xinhui, manager of one Changsha vegetable market. The local authorities in Longhui County sent water trucks to villages, as 98 reservoirs and 30 rivers have dried up, leaving 60,000 people short of drinking water.

Files from CNN