Horses carry drinking water through a mountainous road in Jiangjin, southwest China's Chongqing municipality August 26. A total of 210, 000 residents and 180, 000 head of livestock are facing a serious shortage of water due to the worst drought in five decades. With most of the cropland affected by the sustained drought, the direct economic losses are expected to hit 180 million yuan (US$22.5 million).

Residents line up to draw water from a stream in Jiangjin, southwest China's Chongqing municipality August 26.

(Xinhua News Agency August 28, 2006)