The Chinese government initiated a relief and assistance program for eight drought-ravaged provinces, said a statement on the website of the Ministry of Agriculture.

The government had implemented a grade II emergency response, meaning a 24-hour alert, daily damage reports, and the dispatching of experts and relief materials, said the statement.

The ministry has sent teams to help with relief work in the provinces of Hebei, Shanxi, Jangsu, Anhui, Shandong, Henan, Shaanxi and Gansu, said the statement.