CHINA has raised its drought emergency to the highest level for the first time as a dry spell spreads, leaving millions with little or no water and threatening wheat supplies, state media said.
The decision to go to emergency level one was taken Thursday at meeting of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, Xinhua news agency reported.
The increased alert level was made official at the same time as the central government sent out specialists to all eight major drought-hit regions to help residents with relief supplies and technical aid, the China Daily said.
About 4.3 million people and 2.1 million head of livestock are short of water, the relief headquarters said in a statement, as parts of the nation experience their worst drought since the early 1950s.
About 43 percent of the country's winter wheat supplies are at risk, after some areas have seen no rain for 100 days or more, according to state media.
