BEIJING, (Reuters) Severe drought in northern and southern China has threatened the summer grain crop, state media said on Tuesday.

Since spring, areas to the north of the Yangtze River have suffered the most serious drought in 10 years. By mid-May, the drought had hit 12.66 million hectares of crops, and 460,000 hectares had withered, the China Economic Times reported.

The lack of rainfall has caused a temporary shortage of drinking water for 15.6 million people and 13.1 million heads of livestock, it said.

"The widespread, severe drought has occurred in the country's major areas for summer crops and happened at the critical period for the crops' growth", the China Daily quoted the Ministry of Agriculture as saying in a notice.

The ministry urged local government to ensure water supply for people and give priority to irrigation of fields that supply seeds for farmers.

The ministry has forecast this year's summer grain to be lower than last year's level, with wheat output to fall six percent from last year.