China declares emergency as drought worsens

China declared an emergency Thursday in eight provinces as a worsening drought has left nearly 4 million people without drinking water and threatening harvests, AP reported. The Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief in a statement on its website declared the drought a level-two emergency on a four-level scale, saying it was "rarely seen in history." State media reported that China’s government has designated US$58.5 million for relief work related to the drought, which began in November and has affected 24 million acres of crops in eight northern and eastern provinces.