China activates emergency response to drought in Chongqing

BEIJING, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) — China’s State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters on Friday activated a Level-IV emergency response to drought in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality.
Since the beginning of August, most of Chongqing has seen continuous high temperatures and little rain, with many districts and counties experiencing different degrees of drought, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management.
Rainfall in Chongqing is forecast to remain low and the drought is expected to develop further, said the ministry.
The headquarters has sent a work team to Chongqing to assist and guide the work of drought relief and disaster reduction.
China has a four-tier drought-control emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe. ■