Ministry ups emergency response in drought-hit provinces

In response to a lingering drought condition, the Ministry of Water Resources has initiated a Level-IV emergency response, the lowest in a four-tier system, for drought prevention in eight provinces.

These provinces, including Shanxi, Hebei and Jiangsu, have been plagued by little precipitation and high temperatures since May, affecting the planting and growing of crops, according to a media release from the Ministry of Water Resources on Thursday.

According to forecast, the situation in these regions may further worsen, with the hot and dry weather sustaining, it said. The ministry decided to launch the emergency response at 2 pm on Wednesday.

Based on consistent consultation on the evolving situation, the ministry will arrange water diversion with the help of the country's major water resources project to alleviate the condition, it said.

The ministry will also implement additional emergency measures, such as well-digging, to address the water demands for irrigation, large-scale livestock and poultry farming, and people's lives, it noted.