China is sending 1,000 tons of fresh water to the Maldives by plane and a military vessel to help with a severe water shortage.
China's official Xinhua news agency says more than 100,000 people in the capital city, Male, are short of water because of a fire at the country's only water and sewage treatment plant on Thursday.
Xinhua cited China's Foreign Ministry as saying Beijing has provided emergency aid in cash and drinking water in response to the Maldivian government's request.
Some information for this report came from Reuters.
