China's northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is facing a rat calamity of mammoth dimensions, as the rodents overrun some 5 million hectares of grassland.

The vast meadow and desert areas between the northern foot of the Tianshan mountains and the southern foot of the Altay mountains have been invaded by rats, with the number of rat holes reaching 790 per hectare in the worst affected areas.

Local officials said the infestation is much worse this year than usual due to relatively low temperatures in spring, which postponed the snow melting season and hampered rat control efforts.

The Hui Autonomous Prefecture of Changji, the Tacheng Prefecture and Altay county were the worst affected.

(Xinhua News Agency July 31, 2003)