LHASA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The finance authorities in Tibet allocated another 10 million yuan (1.47 million U.S. dollars) Tuesday to combat a drought that has lasted for more than seven months in parts of the plateau region.

    Finance authorities previously earmarked 30 million yuan for efforts to combat the drought.

A villager walks on the parched pond in Qangka Township, Lhunzhub County, Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, June 15, 2009. (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi) Photo Gallery>>>

    The drought, the worst in 30 years, has affected 33,627 hectares of cropland, 8,313 ha of forests and 2,027 ha of grassland, said a spokesman with the flood control and drought relief headquarters of Tibet Autonomous Region.

    The dry spell also led to the deaths of 13,601 cattle, the spokesman said. "Economic losses caused by the drought have reached 58.76 million yuan," he said.

    The dry weather has caused water shortages for rural residents, and the water level in major rivers and lakes has dropped, he said.

Technicians investigate the severity of drought in Sangye Township, Tanang County, southeastern Tibet's Shannan Prefecture, June 16, 2009. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Some areas got rain Monday but not enough to ease the drought, he added.

    Conditions have been exacerbated by above-normal temperatures, which have run 0.4 to 2.3 degrees Celsius higher than normal years, according to the local observatory.

Drought in Tibet now worst in 30 years

    LHASA, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in Tibet Saturday said the drought is worsening as parts of the southwest China's autonomous region see the worst drought in 30 years.

    The prolonged drought has hit 33 counties in five of the six prefectures in Tibet, the regional drought relief and flood control headquarters said Saturday. The acreage is 15.3 percent of Tibet's total.

Tibet grapples with worst drought in two decades   

    LHASA, June 18 (Xinhua) -- At 66, Yangjen walks at least 3 kilometers every afternoon to carry home two buckets of water -- only enough for cooking and drinking.

    Affected by the worst drought in more than two decades, her village in Lhundrup County on the suburbs of Tibet's capital Lhasa has cracks in the field. Crops are withering and every villager, young and old, is praying for rain. Full story

Tibet fights against drought

    BEIING, June 17 (Xinhuanet) -- The Tibet Autonomous Regional Financial Department has allocated 3 million yuan as emergency funding for drought relief and provided materials such as small water-lifting equipment to the worst-hit areas.

    A total of 27 counties in this region have been suffering a severe drought since early June, the most serious for decade, according to the Tibet's Headquarters for Flood and Drought Control. Full story

Drought in Tibet to aggravate 

    BEIJING, June 17 (Xinhuanet) -- The uneven distribution of precipitation in Tibet and scarce rainfall along the Yarlung Zangbo River will aggravate the current drought in the region, according to the Meteorology Department of Tibet.

    Since June, major agricultural areas in Lhasa, Xigaze, Shannan, and the majority of Chamdo Prefecture have seen little precipitation, resulting in high temperature and drought of various degrees. Full story

Special report: China fights worst drought in 50 years