A persistent drought, described as the worst in a century, covered parts of southern, southwestern, and central China from January through April.
Centered in Yunnan Province, the drought destroyed several million hectares of crops and dried up drinking water sources, affecting more than 50 million people, said the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.
Rains in late March and April eased the drought in most areas, so by the beginning of May, China declared the drought emergency over.
