More than 16 million people are experiencing a water shortage in one of the worst droughts in China in over a decade.
Some 23.3 million hectares of land have been hit by the drought which has scorched summer crops and unplanted farmland in north-east and south-west regions of the country.
The spring drought has lasted for nearly 100 days and caused a shortage of drinking water for more than 16 million people and 12 million livestock. The worsthit areas are the Luliang mountains in north China, and the Taihang mountains spanning Shanzi and Hebei provinces.
Other areas affected are along the Yellow River and Huaihe River in the north-east, according to a report from the state flood-control and drought prevention headquarters in Beijing.