A drought continues to plague most parts of Yunnan province. Rainfall has been scarce since the start of January. Particularly hard-hit cities include Kunming, Qujing, Chuxiong, Dali and Lijiang .

The cracking land has become a common scene throughout the province.

Reservoirs in Qujing, Chuxiong, Dali, Yuxi and Lijiang have seen water levels drop to their lowest in a decade. However, the situation is far from over and may get worse in the near future.

Having already endured a punishing drought last year, this parched land is only getting drier. The cracking land has become a common scene throughout the province, which has been unable to shake off a drought that began in early January.

It's hard to imagine that this desert used to be a reservoir.And hundreds of reservoirs in Yunnan are facing the same fate.The drought is also disrupting the lives of locals who live off the land.

In Aguzu village, months of low rainfall have forced residents to search for water five kilometers away.For them, carrying water has become a daily routine of survival.

But as the drought worsens, the task has become more and more challenging.

A local resident said "We only finished half the journey. The upcoming journey will be at least an hour."

After a two hour walk, they finally reach their destination: Jinshang River.But there is no time to rest, as most have to return three times a day to get enough water for their daily needs.The same situation can also be seen in other villages, where wells have dried up and crops have withered.

According to the provincial government, more than 1.5 million people don't have access to drinking water and 130-thousand hectares of crops have been destroyed.

With no let up in sight, meteorological experts are warning local residents to prepare for the worst, which might come shortly.

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