The severe drought in southwest China has broken after six falls of rain in the past month, Chen Zhenlin, spokesman with the China Meteorological Administration (CMA), said in Beijing Wednesday.

The rain occurred from March 22 to April 26 and ranged from 50 to 100 millimeters.

The drought had parched the southern areas of Yunnan Province, the northeast regions of Guizhou Province, and the eastern and southern parts of Guangxi Province, Chen said at a briefing.

The drought was among the most severe in decades, having a serious impact on people's lives and economic development.

More than 20 million people and 10 million farm animals were affected by water shortages at the drought's peak.

The CMA dispatched 28 teams and expert groups to drought-hit areas to enhance drought-relief work and seed clouds after the drought began last autumn.

(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2010)