Chinese state media say more than 2 million people in drought-stricken areas are suffering from critical shortages of drinking water.

The official Xinhua news agency says about 290,000 people are short of drinking water in the central province of Hunan. Fire engines have been delivering regular supplies of drinking water to residents in the city of Yongzhou who have been cut off from drinking water sources.

Nearly 2 million people in the southwest province of Guizhou are suffering from a shortage of drinking water, according to the provincial affairs bureau. Twelve counties and districts have suffered severe drought since June, while 24 are suffering moderate drought. Officials have launched an emergency response plan to cope with the situation in Guizhou.

The drought has caused more than $400 million in economic damage, and destroyed or damaged thousands of hectares of crops.