The Chinese government has allocated another 20 million yuan (US$2.5 million) to fight the drought in southwest China's Chongqing municipality.

The worst drought in a century has caused losses of 6.5 billion yuan (US$816 million) in the municipality, said E Jingping, head of the State Flood control and Drought Relief Headquarters.

The central and municipal governments had spent 223 million yuan (US$27.8 million) on measures to alleviate the drought, said the municipality's Vice Mayor Chen Guangguo.

Chongqing normally suffered drought in July and August, but the dry season started up to 15 days earlier this year, said E.

The two-month drought has affected 19.72 million mu (1.31 million hectares) or 97 percent of Chongqing's cropland. About 24percent, or 4.8 million mu (320,000 hectares), saw no harvests due to the drought.

Chongqing declared an emergency and launched an emergency plan on August 9. Measures have been taken to ensure drinkable water.

The disaster caused no deaths of people or livestock, said E.

Temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius are still scorching the area. Meteorological departments forecast high temperatures and drought will continue in the east of southwest China for the rest of the week.

The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters asked the local government to prepare for a long-term campaign against drought and provide welfare support for affected people this winter and next spring.

(Xinhua News Agency September 1, 2006)