Drought hits central China province

A farmer squats on a parched piece of land, which used to be a pond, in Liuyang, central China's Hunan province July 22 2008. High temperatures and thin rainfall this summer have created a drought-like situation in the province. [Xinhua]

A farmer squats on a parched piece of land, which used to be a pond, in Liuyang, central China's Hunan province July 22 2008. High temperatures and thin rainfall this summer have created a drought-like situation in the province. [Xinhua]

Two officials of the local meteorological agency in Liuyang, central China's Hunan province prepare to load a rocket launcher used to create rainfall to fight the drought in the province, on July 22, 2008. [Xinhua]

An official of the local meteorological agency in Liuyang, central China's Hunan province prepares to load a rocket launcher used to create rainfall to fight the drought in the province, on July 22, 2008. [Xinhua]