BEIJING, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- More than 12.6 million people in China's southwest region face a drinking water shortage because of a prolonged drought, authorities said.
The number of those hit by a drinking water shortage has risen substantially from the estimated 6.9 million people reported at the end of last month.
The worst hit regions are Guizhou, Yunnan Sichuan and Guangxi Zhuang provinces.
The latest report, carried by China Daily, said the drought also has affected more than 15 million acres of farmland.
The report said several reservoirs and rivers have remained dry since early July.
Chinese Minister of Water Resources Chen Lei has ordered local authorities to establish detailed plans for solving the drinking water problem and intensify drought-fighting efforts.
