About 65.62 million mu (4.37 million hectares) of crops have been threatened by a drought in China's northeastern regions since late July, the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said on Tuesday.

About 810,000 people and 1.46 million head of livestock are suffering from drinking water shortages due to the drought in western Liaoning, mid- and western Jilin, mid- and southern Inner Mongolia, and mid- and western Heilongjiang.

Rainfall in the country's northeast part has been 50 to 90 percent less than in normal years since late July, and frequent high temperatures have made things worse, according to the office.

(Xinhua News Agency August 12, 2009)