Broiling weather and drought have ravaged southwest, east and
central China regions over the past month, leaving about 7.8
million people thirsty for drinking water and at least one person
dead.
The public health authorities of Nanjing, capital city of east
China's Jiangsu Province, said on Tuesday that a
30-year old tourist died of heliosis on Monday after emergency
treatment failed.
The man, from northwest Qinghai Province, fell ill on the train and
was rushed to a hospital when the train arrived in Nanjing.
In the southwestern municipality of Chongqing, more than 7.5 million people are
suffering lack of drinking water due to continuous droughts and
searing heat.
Drinking water shortage has affected another 270,000 people in
central Hunan Province since droughts hit the
northwestern area of the province in June.
(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2006)