Nearly 420,000 people in east China's Jiangxi Province were facing drinking water shortages as the drought continued, local drought relief authorities said Monday.

The Jiangxi provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters said latest statistics showed 417,000 people in Jiujiang, Yichun, Ji'an and others were facing the shortages, while the lowering water level in Ganjiang River threatened water supply for a few cities and caused a traffic congestion in the river.

The headquarters attributed the drought since late August to high temperature and lack of rain.

The average temperature for September was 2.5 degrees Celsius above normal level, equalizing the record high 26.7 degrees in 1963 that witnessed a severe drought. The rainfall so far this month was only 6 mm, 90 percent less than normal.

Water levels in rivers and reservoirs were on the decrease. Nine rivers in the province recorded the lowest-ever water levels, while many small reservoirs and mountain ponds dried up.

The headquarters estimated the drought would continue through Nov. 20 because of high temperature and lack of rain.

Local governments in Jiangxi has given top priority to drought relief and was trying every measure to ensure water supply for people and key enterprises, the headquarters said.

Local authorities were digging wells to ensure drinking water supply and sending water wagons to townships and villages to ease the drinking water shortages.

Some areas also tried to make artificial rains, which proved to be of little help because of the lack of rain cloud.

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• China drought brings rivers to historic low
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