Yunnan Province has experienced what experts are calling the regions' worst drought in 25 years, with 3.6 million residents and 2.88 million head of livestock having difficulty getting drinkable water.
A total of 924 small reservoirs and ponds have been dried up, and water-pumping at 476 wells has stopped due to an inadequate water supply. Farm crops with a combined area of 1.68 million hectares have been affected by the drought through Thursday, information from the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters said.
An official with the headquarters blamed a sustained heat-wave weather for the severe drought. He said rainfall in the Bai Autonomous Prefecture of Dali was 2.8  millimeters from April 1 to May 27.
Temperatures have soared to more than 30 degrees Celsius. In Yuanyang and Yuanjiang counties, there have been several days with the temperature exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.
The severe drought has adversely affected flower growing, one of the country's leading producers of flowers and plants.
The provincial Party and government authorities have gone all out to organize operations to ease the drought.
About 100 million yuan (US$12.1 million) has been spent on drought alleviation as of Thursday. About 1.71 million residents and 1.1 million head of livestock have been provided with drinking water.
According to the official, the provincial government will provide an additional 30 million yuan to fight the drought.