Thousands of rescuers and hundreds of tons of materials were held up on the roads to Mao County, blocked by rocks and mud that leave the county in a critical condition.

About 10,000 tourists are trapped in the area along with 110,000 local people. Food supplies will last for a maximum of 10 days, Wang Bin, Party chief of Mao County revealed. Wang had been attending a meeting in Beijing when the earthquake struck. He flew to Chongqing before taking a bus to Jiuzhaigou. He made his way back to Mao County with an army brigade on foot.

Many soldiers had given away their solid food and medicines to trapped tourists and villagers during the trek, said Gao Xiaowen, major of the brigade from the Chengdu military region.

“Rice porridge every meal – two bowls per person”, was Wang’s instruction. All food is controlled and distributed by the government for the time being. The villagers let tourists eat first, then the old people, finally the younger people.

“Secretary Wang was angry when he found someone complaining about the porridge and leaving it”, Gao revealed. “Anyone who wastes any more food will go hungry for a day”, Wang had said in anger.

Food, water and medicine are the priority needs for Mao County right now.

(China.org.cn by Xiang Bin, May 16, 2008)