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People walk on the damaged streets of Port-au-Prince following the massive earthquake - Source: Reuters -
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Looting turned violent in earthquake-shattered Port-au-Prince on Sunday, when a mob of around 1,000 people fought for goods in a central commercial street, a Reuters witness said.
Men with stones, knives, ice-picks and hammers battled to grab T-shirts, bags, toys and any other items they could find in destroyed houses and shops, Reuters photographer Carlos Barria said. Police present earlier were nowhere to be seen.
"It's anarchy there now, total chaos, the police have gone away," Barria said. "They are fighting, hitting each other, throwing stones at each other."
Looting had been sporadic in the first few days since Wednesday's catastrophic earthquake, which killed tens of thousands of people and flattened large parts of the capital.
But it appeared to be spreading on Sunday, with witnesses reporting similar chaos in other areas, as no authorities took control of the streets, and the desperation of refugees still waiting for aid spilled over.
About 10 US helicopters flew over Port-au-Prince on Sunday, landing in open spaces to throw out boxes of water-bottles and MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) military rations. Most Haitians appeared clueless about what to do with the MREs, witnesses said.
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