On Tuesday, the flood control and drought relief headquarters of central China’s Hunan Province said continued high temperatures were causing a severe drought there.

As of yesterday, 81 counties of 11 cities and prefectures in the province were experiencing water shortages.

The tourist destination city of Zhangjiajie was the worst-hit, with the drinking water supplies of 300,000 people and 50,000 livestock affected.

About 70 small reservoirs in the city are on the verge of drying up and 137 rivers and streams have run dry since June.

Yongshun County in Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture has had no rainfall for 37 consecutive days, resulting in serious water shortages.

Hunan Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters have urged local departments to divert water to drought-hit areas and called for all efforts to ensure the quality of drinking water and avoid waste.

(Xinhua News Agency August 3, 2005)