GUIYANG, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- A severe drought spreading across southwest China's Guizhou Province has affected 15.11 million people, leaving 2.46 million short of drinking water, the local government said on Wednesday.

The lingering drought since mid-June has spread to 27 counties, with 13 of them severely affected, said the Guizhou Provincial Government.

The drought has affected about 1.18 million hectares of farmland, with only 350,000 hectares left harvestable. It has also affected the drinking water supply for 1.03 million livestock in the province.

The provincial government has provided 95.3 million yuan for food and drinking water for people affected.

Neighboring Chongqing municipality has had temperatures of over 30 degrees Celcius since June 1.

About 282,000 people lack drinking water.

The heat wave has swept 13 provincial-level areas across China, leaving about 5.95 million people and 1.72 million livestock short of drinking water, said a Ministry of Civil Affairs report on Monday.