Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu urged local authorities to enhance forest fire prevention work as the risks had intensified in south China owing to severe drought.

A few fire accidents had occurred in Fujian, Hunan, Jiangxi provinces and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Jia Zhibang, chief commander of national forest fire prevention headquarters, also asked local departments to beef up the supervision and control of fire sources.

The prolonged drought has caused water shortage to 2.47 million people, and affected 18.83 million mu (1.26 million hectares) of farmland, according to the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.