BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- China`s drought relief authorities said Tuesday heavy rains had eased the drought in southwest China`s Sichuan Province, but dry weather and high temperatures continued in other affected regions.

Compared with data collected last Sunday, people and livestock facing shortage of drinking water in Sichuan had decreased by 500,000 and 560,000 respectively by Tuesday, said the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters (SFDH).

Heavy rains also reduced the area of affected arable land in Sichuan by 2.33 million mu (155,333 hectares) by Tuesday, according to the SFDH.

However, drought still persisted in other areas, including the provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region as rain in these regions was far from adequate.

As of Tuesday, drought had left 24.62 million people and 18.08 million livestock short of drinking water, said the statement.