Drought hits 700,000 in northeast

A drought in northeastern China has left 700,000 people short of water and forced farmers to scramble for supplies to keep crops and livestock alive. The 30% drop in annual rainfall in Liaoning province has caused wells to dry up, forcing farmers to dig deeper for water or to divert it from nearby reservoirs, AFP reported. The region, which is experiencing its warmest winter in 56 years, has reported groundwater levels in the province have dropped by up to 35cm (13.8in) from 2006.