As provinces in eastern and southern China recover from floods brought by typhoons, drought is affecting the lives of more than 5 million people across the country.

Drought had caused temporary drinking water supply disruption for 1.3 million people in the southwestern province of Guizhou, said the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters.

More than 270,000 hectares of crops and 900,000 domestic animals were also affected.

In mid-July, rainfall in northern, northeastern and southeastern parts of the province was about 50 to 70 percent less than the average, it said.

Forty-seven counties in these areas had less than 10 millimeters of rain. Reservoirs were 25 percent down on normal levels.

More than 20 days of drought and high temperatures since early July have hit southwestern Chongqing Municipality, affecting the lives of 3.5 million people and three million livestock.

Eighty-three reservoirs in Chongqing have suffered water deficiencies, with stored water in some 60 to 70 percent less than average, according to the municipal flood control and drought relief authorities.

Statistics show average rainfall in north China's Shanxi Province was only 65 millimeters in July, about half of the average of previous years.

About 730,000 people and more than 600,000 hectares of farmland were affected by the drought, said the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters.

In northwest China's Gansu Province, about 450,000 people have difficulties in getting drinking water as high temperatures and low rainfall this summer have plagued most of the province.

People in some counties had to travel 50 kilometers for drinking water, according to the provincial flood control and drought relief sources.

Governments of these drought-hit provinces have allocated funds to help residents fight the drought by tapping ground water and improving water conservation facilities.

(Xinhua News Agency August 2, 2006)