Even so, the public's awareness of earthquake kits and its access to them remain inadequate in China, Fu said. The government should go to lengths to make more emergency kits available in schools, subway stations and similar places and carry out regular earthquake drills, she added.

"So far we have very few individual customers buying the kits for personal use," Fu said. "Most of the buyers are large employers and labor unions. There is huge potential for the market, but the government needs to set rules and standards to guide the market's development."

Some local governments have begun to inform the public of the advantages of the emergency kits.

The Guangzhou earthquake authority has encouraged local residents for years to store an emergency package and now intends to place emphasis on its advice, said Yan Xianghong, an earthquake official.

Yan said his office has submitted a report to the city government, which includes a plan to prepare emergency utilities, such as flashlights, masks and radio sets, for residents.

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