520,000 suffer water shortages

A lingering drought has left 520,000 people and 390,000 livestock short of drinking water in Hunan Province, authorities there said on Tuesday. The month-long drought has also withered 527,000 hectares of crops, dried up 542…

Heat wave continues to scorch south China

The National Meteorological Center (NMC) Wednesday continued its high temperature alert for south China as the hot weather is expected to persist over the next three days. The weather agency forecast temperatures in south China’s…

Marine team cleared to scour seabed

BEIJING – China became the first country approved by the International Seabed Authority to look for polymetallic sulphide deposits in the Southwest Indian Ridge, authorities said. “The body approved the application from the China Ocean…

Lengthy drought leaves 4m in need of water

GUIYANG – A lingering drought has caused water shortages for 4.28 million people in China, the country’s drought relief authority said on Monday. A farmer looks anxiously on Monday at peanut crops that have been…

Poor air quality hits many big cities

BEIJING – The average air quality in 45 major cities – nearly four out of every 10 major cities in the country – was rated as “poor” in the first half of this year, according…

Hail storms, tornadoes kill 97 in July

BEIJING – Hail storms and tornadoes had killed 97 people in China in July, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said on Sunday. A total of 20.16 million people in 27 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions were…

Heavy rainfall darkens city, ravages land, farms, homes

Thunderstorms have been battering Chongqing,  damaging homes and farmland, cutting power supplies, and affecting about 275,000 people since Thursday. More than 1,500 houses in the southwestern China municipality have been damaged by the continuous storms…