Panama officials are considering a proposal to seed clouds and gather rainwater as the country grapples with a serious drought.

Canal Authority official Carlos Vargas said on Friday that a committee heard the proposal this week but had further questions about costs and outcomes.

Panama declared an emergency in August due to a deepening drought blamed on the weather phenomenon known as El Nino.

The country has banned using water for recreational activities including upcoming Carnival festivities.

Cloud-seeding is a technique in which chemicals are deployed to stimulate additional precipitation.