More than 611,900 people in 11 of the 21 cities in south China's Guangdong Province are suffering from water shortages owing to continuous drought, according to local flood control and drought relief officials on Monday. 

Prolonged dry weather in the province has affected 339,960 hectares of cropland, of which 104,830 hectares of crops were seriously affected. About 215,500 cattle were left short of drinking water, and 255 small reservoirs have dried up.

Local governments have earmarked more than 160 million yuan (US$21million) and mobilized 2.58 million people to dig wells and for water diversion project. Drinking water has been supplied to 446,000 people and 154,000 cattle have regained drinking water.

In east China's rice-growing Jiangxi Province, 20 million yuan (US$2.6 million) has been allocated for drought relief, including two million for artificial rain operations.

Drought in the province has lowered water levels in rivers and lakes, leaving more than one million people short of water.

Meanwhile, rains in southwest China's Sichuan Province are forecast to increase in intensity.

The provincial meteorological department has issued an orange warning, requiring local governments and the public to prepare for possible floods, landslides and mud-rock flows.

Downpours and ensuing disasters have killed at least 66 people in Sichuan so far this summer.

(Xinhua News Agency August 7, 2007)