Sea goddess, air force C-130s called upon to fight Taiwan drought

Tourists visit the Baoshan second reservoir amid low water levels during an islandwide drought, in Hsinchu, Taiwan March 6, 2021. Picture taken March 6, 2021. REUTERS/Ann Wang

HSINCHU, Taiwan (Reuters) - Taiwan is drilling wells, seeding clouds and beseeching a gold-faced sea goddess to help the sub-tropical island ride out its most serious drought in about half a century, after rain-soaking typhoons failed to make landfall last year.

The drought is worst across a band of western Taiwan, including the major metropolises of Hsinchu, home to many of Taiwan's renowned tech firms, Taichung in the centre of the island, and Tainan and Kaohsiung to the south.