Residents in Gansu province have been facing an increasingly severe drought since April. The inland province hasn't seen so little rain during this period since record-keeping began in 1961, reported China Central Television on Wednesday.

According to the provincial water resources department, Gansu has received only 17.3 mm of rain since April, 65.2 percent below the long-term average. By Tuesday, nine cities and prefectures, along with 39 counties and districts, had declared drought conditions.

To ease water shortages, authorities released emergency water reserves in the Yellow River basin, sending 72 million cubic meters from the river's main stem and another 40 million from its tributary, the Datong.

Two major trunk-diversion projects were activated 10 days ahead of schedule. Combined with a third project, they have diverted 245 million cubic meters, it said.

Local water bureaus in Qingyang, Pingliang, and Gannan have mobilized 18,000 personnel and brought 168 emergency wells, 98 pumping stations, and 689 water-transport vehicles into service to secure drinking water supplies. Residents in these areas have drinking water, the report added.