The drought that has parched southwest China has eased after recent heavy rains, the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said Thursday.

Southwest China's Yunnan Province, which was hit by the worst drought in six decades, has received rainfall of 76 millimeters since May 25.

The area of agricultural land affected by drought fell to 5.25 million mu from 50.8 million mu in early April, when the drought peaked, the office said.

Nationwide, nearly 38 million mu (2.5 million hectares) of crops are currently affected by drought, down 75 percent from the same period last year.

Some 8.14 million people are still having difficulty accessing safe drinking water, 80,000 less than the figure one year ago and the first year-on-year decrease in 2010.

The office warned of possible drought in northeast China as some parts have witnessed record high temperatures recently.

(Xinhua News Agency June 11, 2010)