Piles of relief goods meant for victims of a deadly earthquake in China's Sichuan province six years ago have been found rotting in a storeroom, media reported Wednesday.
The news has sparked anger at a local party chief who has been accused of trying to cover up the find, South China Morning Post reported.
After complaints of a stench emanating in a nearby building were made by residents living near Mianyang in the southwestern province, the bundles of food, clothes and supplies were found hidden in a storeroom, Agence France-Presse reported.
The 8.0-magnitude disaster in May 2008 left more than 80,000 people dead or missing. Described as China's most devastating earthquake in more than three decades, it leveled entire villages, collapsed buildings and damaged homes and farmland, SCMP reported.
The devastation saw humanitarian relief efforts being made through global contributions.
"Guo Fangping, party secretary of Xinsheng village, rushed to the site and ordered onlookers to leave. He sent for cars and workers from a neighboring area to clear away the goods," SCMP reported. "Later that evening, Guo ordered staff to clean the storeroom until only bits of rice were left."
Following attempts to cover up the existence of the cache, Fangping had been suspended, The Beijing Youth Daily reported.
"Do not blame people for not giving donations the next time there is a natural disaster," said one angry comment on Sina Weibo, China's version of Twitter.
"You (officials) have made the Chinese people lose hope. Hurry up and leave office!"
Another Weibo user said, "Don't these officials who are neglectful of disaster victims have a tortured conscience?"
As there is a perceived lack of transparency and openness in the sector, many Chinese are distrustful of local bureaucrats. Others portray suspicion of donating to charities and aid agencies.
In 2011 China's Red Cross vowed to make public all donations it receives after it was embroiled in controversy following allegations of corruption, AFP reported.
