The worst summer drought in 30 years in northeast China's Liaoning province has left more than 1.2 million people short of drinking water, state media reported Tuesday.

Xinhua News Agency quoted the provincial flood prevention and drought control headquarters as saying nearly all the 14 major cities in the province had been affected by the drought, and that 88 small- and medium-sized reservoirs had dried up.

The province has about 42 million people.

It said the provincial government has sent more than 500,000 workers to fight the drought by digging extra wells and by sending water tankers to the worst-hit areas.

The drought is expected to continue, with no rain and high temperatures forecast for the next week, Xinhua said.

China, with its vast size, is often hit by droughts and flooding at the same time