(Yicai Global) Jun 04 -- Lightning-sparked wildfires have been raging in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and local authorities have considered producing artificial rainfall to extinguish the blazes.

The fires broke out in the Khan Ma National Nature Reserve in Greater Hinggan Mountains and in the northern Aba River on Friday, state-backed Xinhua News Agency reported. Some 9 aircraft of different types have been waiting to be deployed to kill the fires but due to heavy wind on Sunday, the planes could not take off.

Once the weather conditions allow, local authorities are considering producing artificial precipitation on the site, according to the Inner Mongolia Meteorological Bureau.

The Greater Hinggan Mountains have suffered from drought with a high temperature of up to 35°C, which was the onset of the rainless thunderstorms that started the fires.

Editor: Emmi Laine