As observation of Da Nang Newspaper's reporters on Monday morning, Da Nang residents stores, wet markets and supermarkets to pick up essentials that could hold their families over for a few days in a bid to cope with typhoon Noru. The city saw a soak in the demand for sacks, plastic bags, ropes and flashlights, plus other necessities.

Purchasing power at wet markets increases sharply, but basic prices remained stable. Leafy green vegetables, eggs, fish, meat, rice, and instant noodles of all kinds are best-selling items. In the photo: Shoppers at the Dong Da wet market on the morning of September 26. Photo: KHANH HOA

As recorded at the Muoi Bi store, located at 60 Nguyen Trai, Hai Chau District, which specialises in wholesale and retail sale of cables, tensioners and screws, there was a sharp increase in the number of shoppers for items that reinforce houses and sheet-metal roofs.

Mr. Tran Bi, the store owner, said that the prices are unchanged compared to normal days.

Similarly, the bustling trading atmosphere has been recorded at stores on Ton Duc Thang, Ong Ich Khiem and Tran Cao Van streets. Such items as ropes, sacks used to contain soil and sand, plastic bags and even flashlights are in a state of ‘out of stock’.

According to Le Thi Phuong Thao, the owner of the Hong Ly electricity and water store located at 146 Dung Si Thanh Khe, despite the increasing purchasing power, her store still keeps the prices unchanged. Steel wires and some necessary items to reinforce houses are the best sellers.

Meanwhile, such supermarkets as Co.opmart and Go! were crowded with shoppers. Especially, vegetables, fruits, meat and fresh seafood were gone or picked over after a few hours of being on sale. There was a mad dash for items as people prepared for the possibilities of whatever the super typhoon would bring.

However, commodity prices still remain unchanged, and there is no increase in prices. Prices of essential items being sold at the market such as meat, fish, leafy vegetables and eggs of all kinds did not fluctuate much.

Also on Monday morning, a group of inspectors from the municipal Department of Industry and Trade conducted inspection visits business establishments and wet markets citywide to check business activities and prices.

Ms. Le Thi Kim Phuong, Director of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade, said that in addition to plans on ensuring the stable supply of goods, the department has written to the district-level authorities to actively ensure the adequate supply of essential items to support residents living in hard hit areas.

At the same time, the Department directs the market management boards and affiliated units to encourage business households and small traders at wet markets to increase the stock of essential goods and avoid goods speculation and hoarding, and unreasonable price increases.

Commercial centres, supermarkets, and convenience store chains are urged to increase stockpiling of goods, especially essentials, food and foodstuffs according to the national plan to reserve goods for natural disaster prevention and control in 2022.

The Da Nang Market Management Bureau directs the market management forces to strengthen the inspection and control at wet markets with a focus on inspecting the registration, declaration and displaying of prices of goods and services, and the selling at the displayed prices at trade centers, supermarkets, markets, business establishments, etc.

Strict punishment will be imposed on violations of hoarding, unreasonably increasing prices, earning illicit profits, and false rumors causing scarcity of goods and services.

Such items as cables, screws, bags and tarpaulins are amongst the best sellers. In the photo: Staff at the Muoi Bi Store located at 60 Nguyen Trai loading cables to the car for customers on the morning of September 26. Photo: KHANH HOA

From early Monday morning, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Vuong buys a lot of things for reinforcing her house. Photo: KHANH HOA

The amount of goods at supermarkets and convenience stores is abundant in order to meet the shopping and storage needs of local residents. In the photo: A woman is seen buying seafood at the Go! supermarket on the morning of September 26. Photo: Giao Thuy

Small traders in many wet markets citywide said that the consumption of pork products increased 3-4 times compared to normal days in the past two days. In the photo: The meat selling stalls at the Dong Da wet market on Monday morning were crowded with buyers. Photo: KHANH HOA

Leafy green vegetables have been among the best-sellers over the past two days. In the photo: Shoppers are observed at the Go! supermarket on Monday morning. Photo: Giao Thuy

Reporting by KHANH HOA, GIAO THUY - Translating by M.DUNG