Artificial rain, underground water to relief N. China´s drought

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Capt. Liu Yuhai, who is a pilot, said, "Our first trip was very smooth. The clouds and the weather condition were suitable for producing artificial rain. We'll take off soon to conduct another operation. "

Anhui and Henan provinces have embraced the long-awaited drops of rain. This command center is monitoring changes in cloud conditions, waiting for a chance to create more rain.

And while some are looking to the sky for relief, others are digging underground. This map released by the Ministry of Land and Resources shows the location of underground aquifers. Expert teams will soon be sent to Hebei and Henan provinces to help the locals find water, and dig wells for drinking and irrigation. If this works, more teams will be sent to other provinces including Gansu and Shaanxi.

Tao Qingfa, Minister of Land & Resources, said, "Some places don't have rivers or lakes and haven't had rain for a long time. So the underground water is very useful in a time of emergencies. "

But using underground water is only a temporary solution. Officials with the Ministry of Land and Resources say once the drought eases, the exploitation of underground water must cease to avoid long-term damage to the environment.

Editor:Liu Anqi