Time, minute by minute, passed amid the public's worries.
People watched as City C, once a scattered mess of chaos, gradually became less tense and started to calm down.
Most residents of the Linjiang Region lived in relocation sites under government supervision, while those from other areas stayed in their own homes or gathered together spontaneously.
Because the Linjiang area had the city's largest wholesale base for grains and groceries, a major flood had nearly submerged all the places.
Dampness, cold, and mildew filled the air near Linjiang, and after the residents evacuated, Linjiang resembled a ghost town.
However, there were still people from other areas who came over to scavenge.
After the floodwaters receded, Linjiang was littered with ownerless items. Despite the government's repeated warnings—because of the fierce flood, many corpses lay uncollected in the streets—it was very dangerous for living people to stay in such an environment for long.
