Strong rainstorms occurred on Sunday in cities over the eastern
Sichuan Basin, in southwest China, signaling a
possible end to more than three months of drought.
The provincial observatory said the rainstorms had washed over
the area from Sunday morning and some experts considered it a
turning point, bringing lower temperatures, more rain and strong
winds to the drought-ravaged areas.
Meteorologists forecast rainstorms or showers with strong winds
over the Sichuan Basin, covering most of the province, until
Tuesday.
Downpours would hit 12 cities in Sichuan and temperatures were
expected to drop by at least 10 degrees Celsius, ending the long
heatwave.
Over the past three months, the drought has left at least 18
million people short of drinking water in 15 provinces,
municipalities and regions, according to the Ministry of Water
Resources.
Sichuan Province has been hardest hit.
The Sichuan Provincial Meteorological Administration said
central and eastern parts of the province had experienced
temperatures of up to 40 degrees until Saturday.
The drought brought drinking water shortages to more than 10
million people in Sichuan.
(Xinhua News Agency September 4, 2006)
