ACTION: Rescue team members enter a cave to start their mission (CUI MENG)

The Blue Sky Emergency Rescue Team under the Beijing Red Cross looked for water sources in southwest China's Guizhou Province, one of the worst drought-stricken areas, from March 20 to March 30. With rich mountaineering experience and professional equipment, the team found three valuable water sources to relieve the water shortage there.

On March 28, members of the rescue team appeared on a hillside near Yemaichong Village, Guangzhao Township, Qinglong County to help locals search for a cave that was reported to have water. When they descended about 400 meters into the cave, they found a large water hole about one meter deep. In addition, they spotted a transparent blue fish inside the hole, proof of the water's safety.

March 29 was a lucky day for the team as the members found a running stream about 20 meters underground in Lanmuqiao Village, Pu'an County. This stream also had fish swimming in it. It will be a very important water source for villagers because it is much easier to get water from this shallow well.

Each time they descended into a cave, team members drew draft maps of the interior and marked the specific location of water sources in order to help the relevant departments find water.

The Beijing Red Cross has started to build emergency water supply stations near places where the rescue team found water. Water in the caves will be pumped up to alleviate the shortage of drinking water. The local government has also prepared to pump the water based on information provided by the rescue team.

After more than 200 days with hardly a drop of rain, the worst drought in about a century has turned much of southwest China, mainly Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan provinces, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chongqing Municipality, into parched fields and dry rice paddies.

As of March 28, some 5.8 million people were suffering from a shortage of drinking water in Guizhou Province alone; direct agricultural economic losses were more than 3.34 billion yuan ($489.7 million).

The Blue Sky Emergency Rescue Team launched the "Water Source Action" after locals in Guizhou Province, some 2,000 km away, sent a signal for help through the Internet. All members are volunteers with rich outdoor rescue experience.

On March 31, the team returned to Beijing to have a rest and, more importantly, to prepare more search equipment. They returned to Guizhou Province on April 3 to continue their search for water.