East China's Fujian Province has been suffering from great shortages of water and electric power caused by a drought that has been afflicting the province since this summer.

According to the provincial flood control headquarters, over 20 cities and counties have received no rainfall for 31 consecutive days, and even 180 days in some cases. Medium and large reservoirs are only 38 percent and 47 percent full respectively, and 538 small reservoirs have dried up completely.

A total of 175,000 ha of farmland have been affected, with the crop output dropping by 200 million kilograms. The drought has also affected 361 villages, with a total population of over 1.8 million.

In Xiapu, Luoyuan and Lianjiang counties, farmers have to wait in long queues to get water. Most wells have dried up. The price of water has been climbing. Local governments have dispatched teams to seek more water sources and dig new wells. Some islands have even asked the navy to transport water for them.

The drought has also caused a shortage of electric power. The province's daily generation capacity has dropped by 70 percent over last year. This provincial capital has reported a lack of 15 percent of electricity. Limitation on power use is in force all over the province.

The drought is the severest in the province since 1939, according to historical records. The provincial meteorological station has forecast that it will continue for some time.

(Xinhua News Agency December 23, 2003)