Six rocket projectiles had been fired into sky in Zhaoqing, bringing substantial rainfall to the city, a Chinese language newspaper reported Monday.

The observatory in Zhaoqing recorded 27.6 millimeters of rain in six hours after the cloud seeding, which had alleviated the drought, officials said.

Guangdong plans to conduct cloud seeding throughout the province, which is short of water. An aircraft had arrived at Foshan airport Sunday, ready to conduct more cloud seeding in Guangdong Province.

Airports in Shenzhen and Foshan will be used as bases for cloud seeding which will be done by aircraft and rockets, following agreements with the Army and civil aviation authorities.

The provincial observatory has also set up a special taskforce in charge of the cloud seeding.

All preparations for the cloud seeding had been completed and it would done when the weather was favorable, said Yu Yong, director of the Guangdong Provincial Observatory Center.

Aircraft cloud seeding is more beneficial over vast areas in the province, while rockets are more efficient in a smaller area, said Wu.

Cloud seeding was basically harmless to humans and animals, said Wu.

Although rain has fallen in the province recently, it was still far from enough, said Wu Dui, an expert at the provincial observatory center.

Most areas of the province had received 10 to 40 percent less rainfall than the same period last year. There had been 40 to 70 percent less rainfall in the southwestern part of the province and the Pearl River Delta Region.

The drought has affected crops, as well as drinking water supplies. The four main rivers running through the province have recorded historically low levels.

This is the first time cloud seeding has been done province-wide.

Editor: Catherine