Residents of North and Northeast China, where warm currents of air have sent temperatures soaring, are expected to feel relieved following the forecast of heavy rain, expected within the next two or three days.

But high temperatures or drought will continue to plague people living in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, South China and the Huaihe and Yellow river valleys.

Drought conditions have worsened in many regions of South China after consecutive days of searing heat, and the State Meteorological Observatory announced the temperatures will remain high with average temperatures of 35-38 C and a peak of 39-43 C in some areas.

Central China's Hunan Province and East China's Zhejiang Province are two regions badly stricken by prolonged drought.

In Hunan, water shortages have worsened in some counties as drinking water for humans and livestock can only be stored for about 20 days.

In East China's Zhejiang Province, high temperatures have persisted for nearly a month and have caused drought across the region. Forest fires caused by the drought conditions have also killed two villagers.

Statistics from the provincial government indicated that the current drought is the worst on record for the last 10 years.

About 1.29 million people in Zhejiang are suffering from water shortages and about 200,000 hectares of crops have been damaged by the drought.

In South China's Guangdong Province, the Guangzhou Meteorological Observatory yesterday formally issued a red heat warning, urging local residents and tourists to take measures to prevent heatstroke.

It was the first time a heat warning signal was issued in Guangdong's provincial capital.

As of yesterday, the Guangzhou Meteorological Observatory will issue the red heat warning when the mercury climbs beyond 35 C.

Affected by a subtropical cyclone, the hot weather in Guangzhou will last for at least a couple of weeks, with its daily highest temperature predicted to reach 36 C, the official said.

(China Daily 07/30/2003 page1)