5.9 million Chinese face drinking water shortages

As the Yangtze river hits its lowest water levels in at least 140 years, the figures of Chinese who face drinking water shortages has doubled from 2.43 million to 5.9 million. According to state media, the cause is severe winter drought as rainfall is down 70% this year.

Because of the low water levels in the Yangtze River, more than 40 ships have run aground since October, and the number of livestock without sufficient drinking water hit 5.67 million.

Sources include Inquirer.net and Chinaview.