A boat is stuck near a dying pond due to drought in Zhongxiang city, Central China's Hubei province, Aug 15, 2012. Continuing drought has hit 32 cities and counties in Hubei province, causing a large area of crops to wither and die. As of Aug 12, an area of 6 million mu (4 billion square meters) of crops is affected and 526,000 people are suffering shortages of drinking water in the province. [Liu Junfeng/Asianewsphoto]

A pond dries up due to drought in Zhongxiang city, Central China's Hubei province, Aug 15, 2012. [Liu Junfeng/Asianewsphoto]