China faces drinking water shortage

Beijing: Hot weather and a severe drought have left millions of people short of drinking water and millions of hectares of cropland damaged in China.

At least 18 million people in 15 Chinese provinces and regions are suffering from drinking water shortages caused by the drought, according to Chinese Ministry of Water Resources.

The drought, the worst in 50 years, has left more than 130 million hectares of cropland affected and more than 17 million livestock.

China's Chongqing municipality and Sichuan province have been hardest hit and forecast from the meteorological department says that the hot and dry conditions will continue.

"The severe drought will not ease up and is very likely to get worse," the ministry said on its website.

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has allocated 100 million yuan ($12.5 million) to the drought-hit areas.

Local governments have sent teams to deliver water to people affected by the drought and medical teams are providing medicine to prevent diseases.