Posted 2019/8/11
A record drought is scorching Liaoning province in northeastern China. Huludiao city has been especially hard hit, with farmlands in the region suffering after seeing just one instance of rain in the last three months.
Millions of hectares of farmland damaged or destroyed. The lingering drought has made it impossible to meet local irrigation demands. It's the first time in over 30 years that farmers like Zhang Fuguo have so little water for irrigation.
"Look, the corn leaves are so dry they crumble in your hand," Zhang said.
The drought, which coincides with a critical period in crop growing, will cripple this year's production.
Meanwhile, over 45,000 residents are also facing shortages in drinking water. The local government has dispatched vehicles to supply water to villages.
"Without these vehicles bringing water supplies, we would have no water at all. All wells in the village have dried up."
In the nearby city of Xingcheng, over 80 percent of farmlands have been damaged. One third will have no harvest this year.
The lack of water has also affected livestock with about 2,000 animals lacking drinking water in the city.
People are combing the skies for rainclouds, but weather authorities predict clear skies in the coming days and still no rain.
