China Deploys Rain-Seeding Drones to End Drought in Sichuan

A cloud-seeding rocket is launched in an attempt to make rain on May 15, 2021, in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province. Photo: Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) — China is using two massive drones to seed rainclouds in Sichuan province to try to end a devastating drought that has choked power output and disrupted supply chains of global giants like Apple Inc. and Tesla Inc.

The China Meteorological Administration launched drones in northern and southeastern Sichuan on Thursday morning, and the aircraft will eventually cover an area of 6,000 square kilometers in operations lasting through Monday, state-owned CCTV reported.