While southern China has been pounded by freezing rain, the country`s eastern Shandong province is reeling from crippling drought. Fewer than 9 millimeters of rain has fallen in last three months, the lowest in more than 50 years. Nearly a quarter of a million people face a shortage of drinking water, while forecasters warn the dry spell will continue.

Since October, most parts of Shandong province haven`t received a drop of rain. The drought has crippled more than half of wheat crops, with nearly 15 percent severely damaged.

Yang Zhendong, director of Provincial Flood & Drought Control HQ, said, "The drought covers everywhere in Shandong province. It`s very serious."

The hardest-hit city has been Linyi in the province`s southeast. It is the largest prefecture-level city in Shandong. Just 5.8 millimeters of rain has fallen since last September, down 94 percent compared to last year`s average.

Chen Zhaohua, farmer of Junan County, said, "About three months ago, it rained a little, which just wet the surface of land. We haven`t had a drop of rain since then. Look at my wheat - the roots can`t go deep into the land without enough water. They are becoming yellow and dry."

The drought hasn`t just affected wheat crops. Drinking water supplies for people and livestock are also drying up rapidly.

Liu Hanmin, Director of Linyi Flood & Drought Control Dept., said, "According to figures from the Department of Water Resources, this is the biggest drought over 128 years in Linyi. The drought will stay for another season based on the forecast of Meteorological Department."

Local authorities earmark 6.85 million yuan to tackle the drought and prepared to make full use of the water storage for the most needed place.

Yin Changwen, Spokesman of Provincial Flood & Drought Control Dept., said, "Fortunately, we have plenty of water stored as well as bore water. We should irrigate wheat crops as much as possible before the end of winter. That way we could ride out the drought until spring and guarantee the safety of food production."

Normally, wheat crops in Linyi are irrigated using water from reservoirs and bore water. However, this is no longer an option.