Across China: Shanxi

Drought worsens

The warning level for drought in Shanxi province was raised from blue to yellow on Saturday, signaling a marked increase in the severity of the situation, officials have said.

The office of the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters said Shanxi had received only 20.4 mm of rain since October last year. The same four-month period in 2007 had 49.7 mm of rain, or 59 percent more.