Beijing, Aug 23 (TIWN) A record-breaking drought has caused some rivers in China, including parts of the Yangtze, to dry up, affecting hydropower, halting shipping, and forcing major companies to suspend operations.

A nationwide drought alert was issued on August 19 as a long running and severe heatwave in China's heavily populated south-west was forecast to continue well into September, The Guardian reported.

The loss of water flow to China's extensive hydropower system has sparked a "grave situation" in Sichuan, which gets more than 80 per cent of its energy from hydropower.