Beijing:
Nearly 10 million people in China's central Hubei province, accounting for one-sixth of the country's population, have been hit by a severe drought that dried up water sources and destroyed thousands of hectares of crops.
A survey conducted by the provincial civil affairs department showed that some 9.8 million people were reeling under the drought, Xinhua reported.
Hubei has received 50 percent less rainfall in the last 200 days compared to the figure in the corresponding period.
The provincial government Monday declared a state of emergency to respond to the situation.
About 26,000 hectares of crops have been already lost and an additional 88 million hectares are in danger due to lack of water, the government said.
The Three Gorges Dam, world's largest hydroelectric power project in Hubei, has been releasing water to mitigate the situation. The water levels in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze have risen recently, official figures show.
A 10-day forecast shows no rainfall in Hubei, so the drought is expected to continue, the Met Office said.