Broiling weather and drought have ravaged southwest, east and central China regions over the past month, leaving about 7.8 million people thirsty for drinking water and at least one person dead.

 

The public health authorities of Nanjing, capital city of east China's Jiangsu Province, said on Tuesday that a 30-year old tourist died of heliosis on Monday after emergency treatment failed.

 

The man, from northwest Qinghai Province, fell ill on the train and was rushed to a hospital when the train arrived in Nanjing.

 

In the southwestern municipality of Chongqing, more than 7.5 million people are suffering lack of drinking water due to continuous droughts and searing heat.

 

Drinking water shortage has affected another 270,000 people in central Hunan Province since droughts hit the northwestern area of the province in June.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2006)