BEIJING, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Long drought, coupled with high temperature, has affected 147 million mu (9.8 million hectares) of crops in China, according to the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.

The drought also left 7.53 million people and 5.08 million head of livestock short of drinking water.

Cheng Dianlong, deputy chief of the headquaters' office, said Heilongjiang Province and most of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and many regions in southern China received 50 to 90 percent less rain since July compared with average levels.

Sustained hot weather made the drought worse as many parts in the south recorded more than 25 days with temperature above 35 centigrade between July 1 and August 2, he said.

Large reservoirs in eight regions including Guangdong, Jiangxi, Heilongjiang, and Guangxi hold 15 billion cubic meters less water than a year ago, the deputy chief said.

He said that drought affected 44 percent arable land in the eastern province of Jiangxi, 35 percent in Heilongjiang and 33 percent in Hunan.

The drought caused heavy losses to farm production as growth of rice in the south and corn and soy in the north was affected, according to Cheng.

The headquarters urged local authorities to strengthen drought monitoring and forecast and step up efforts to ensure water supply to people and livestock and reduce farm production losses.