Droughts and high temperatures have plagued the areas to the south of the Huaihe River in east China's Anhui Province since June, leaving about two thirds of the province in dire need of water, according to China Meteorological Administration.

Due to the continual high temperature and huge demand for water in the irrigation season, the water level in many reservoirs and lakes dropped drastically and some even dried up, according to the administration.

Some counties reported shortages of water supply, and the dry spells plagued Chuzhou, Hefei, Chaohu and Xuancheng, most seriously.

In Anhui, the areas north of the Yangtze River received rainfall about 20 percent less than the average level in the previous years, and the areas south of the Yangtze received 30 percent less than the average level in previous years, according to the provincial meteorological administration.

The amount of water in reservoir has dwindled to 5.92 billion cubic meters in the affected areas, about 43 percent of the average level in the previous years, and a myriad of small reservoirs has dried up the regions between the Huaihe River and the Yangtze.

High temperature will continue in the first 10 days of July and the drought is expected to degenerate in the province, according to the provincial meteorological observatory.

The Huaihe River cuts across China between the Yellow River and the Yangtze, running through Henan, Anhui and Jiangsu provinces.

The areas along the river are prone to floods and droughts. 

(Xinhua News Agency July 2, 2005)