Lingering drought hits Yunnan, SW China (1/3)

A farmer drives her cattle beside a water reservior at drought-affected Luomian Township of Fumin County in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, Feb. 27, 2012. No water could be left over in the reservior one month later. The drought in Yunnan Province has left 3.19 million people and 1.58 million livestock short of drinking water, the provincial government said Monday. Some plants had to halt production due to water shortage, costing rough losses of 10 billion yuan (1.6 million U.S. dollars). Drought and low rainfall in the three consecutive years have dried up 273 rivers and 413 small reservoirs in Yunnan. (Xinhua/Yang Zheng)