The drought that has struck five provinces in southwest China has worsened, leaving at least 11m people short of water and affecting large areas of farmland, the authorities have warned.

The Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief said the supply of drinking water would be the highest priority for drought relief efforts in Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Chongqing and Sichuan, as the drought is expected to last until mid-March.

High temperatures and a lack of rain have caused some reservoirs to dry up. For example, Lijiagou reservoir in Chongqing’s Rongchang county has run dry and cannot supply water for the 20,000 residents in the area, local media reported. As a consequence, the local government has had to arrange for water to be transported from the Laixihe River.