© Reuters
A policeman tries to maintain order as residents throng a wholesale salt market in Taiyuan, northeastern China, to stock up on the seasoning in the mistaken belief that it would protect against radiation poisoning.
A policeman tries to maintain order as residents throng a wholesale salt market in Taiyuan, northeastern China, to stock up on the seasoning in the mistaken belief that it would protect against radiation poisoning.
The clamor for salt reportedly started after rumors spread, possibly by cellphone text messaging, that China would be hit by a radioactive cloud from Japan's Fukushima No. 1 (Daiichi) nuclear plant, which had been badly damaged during last week's earthquake and tsunami.
People were under the false impression that consuming enough iodized salt would protect against radiation and that China's sea salt supplies would be contaminated as a result of the unfolding Japanese crisis.
That sparked long lines and mob scenes in major cities such as Shanghai, Beijing and Hangzhou.
In a scene repeated across the country, online video from the eastern city of Wenzhou showed panicked shoppers filling their baskets with tubs of salt and street vendors complaining about being cleaned out.
"I hear there was also a huge earthquake in Taiwan and it will hurt salt supply," a woman was heard saying. There was no earthquake in Taiwan.
Comment: While Hilary Clinton sends US jets to attack Gaddafi, she sanctions the disgusting King of Bahrain's decision to call in troops from Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait to do what you see in this video. Meanwhile, Britain invites the King of Bahrain to the "royal wedding".
Sick psychopathic, conscienceless animals.