Severe drought in southwest China hurting crops

BEIJING - The worst drought to strike parts of China's southwest in 50 years has badly damaged crops and cost more than 8.9 billion yuan (US$1.1 billion; euro900 million) in economic losses.
In Sichuan province, the dry weather has destroyed 5 million tons of sweet potatoes, yams and beans, Pan Xiaoru, an official with the provincial department of agriculture said.
The one-month-old drought has affected parts of the industrial city of Chongqing and neighboring Sichuan province, leaving 18 million people without adequate drinking water, according to state media.
whether the reported losses included damage to other industries besides farming is unknown.