Society
Order restored to markets in mudslide-hit Zhouqu
By Hu Yongqi (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-08-16 06:49
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ZHOUQU, Gansu - Dozens of survivors are sitting on makeshift seats watching TV programs after 1,000 TV sets were recently installed in three settlements in Zhouqu, Gansu province, hit by deadly landslides on Aug 8.
 A girl in mudslide-stricken Zhouqu county, Gansu province, receives food distributed by disaster relief workers on Sunday. [China News Service] |
In addition, order has been restored to the market in Zhouqu and more than 10 shops have opened to the residents and rescuers.
Survivors now have access to 48 channels that regularly broadcast information about what is going on in the county.
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These TV sets and radio receivers were donated by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, as well as the Publicity Department of the CPC.
The bureau started to restore radio signals on Aug 8, and on Aug 9, the radio and television signals was back in use and people in the county seat could watch two channels to learn about the rescue work.
The bureau suffered a loss of at least 18 million yuan ($2,647,800) caused by the landslide. One employee and five family members of another employee were killed in the disaster.
But staff members held back their grief and started to resume operations of Zhouqu's radio and television network.
Survivors in Zhouqu now can buy daily necessities within the mudslide-hit county seat as dozens of stores are open to consumers. A makeshift market was set up by the Zhouqu industry and commerce bureau last Saturday.
On Nanmen street, more than 10 stores selling food, water, medicine and garments are open to local residents.
The prices are at the same levels as before the deadly mudslide, according to a quick China Daily survey.
Hongyuan Supermarket, the biggest market in Zhouqu that has 18 branches, re-opened its headquarters market in front of the county government building on Aug 9.
The supermarket is open from 8 am to 6:30 pm every day with a typical sales volume of more than 30,000 yuan ($4,415). The best sellers are toothpaste, toothbrushes, underwear, slippers, and flashlights.
The day after the mudslide, the industry and commerce bureau of Zhouqu put out a notice to stabilize the market and coordinate with the civil affairs bureau to provide the supermarket with more goods.
"The prices are not higher than before with some commodities even cheaper," said Li Linlin, manager of the supermarket.
"The overall prices will not be raised because of short supply of goods here."
But the supermarket now also faces shortages of fuel and Li said he needs to negotiate with the petroleum companies to have more oil shipped.
More than 100 residents have bought traditional Chinese medicine in Xiao Wenxuan's medicine store. Most of the patients are suffering colds or diarrhea.
Xiao said the cold weather easily leads to disease and residents should take the medicines as quick as they can.
In the street, vegetables planted by residents of nearby townships are available. At least four cloth stores are open and the price is in line with those before the landslide.
Overall, the disaster-crushed area is not short of living materials, said an official of the civil affairs bureau who declined to be named.
"I was lucky to survive, so I open my store before schedule because people need clothes," said Liu Guilan, a clothing store owner.
