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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Looting picks up in typhoon-ravaged Philippines

An aerial view shows signs for help and food amid the destruction left from Typhoon Haiyan in the coastal town of Tanawan, central Philippines, today. (Associated Press)
Kristen Gelineau Associated Press

TACLOBAN, Philippines – Thousands of people stormed a rice warehouse on an island devastated by Typhoon Haiyan, authorities said today, highlighting the urgent need to get water, food and medical supplies into an increasingly desperate region.

Five days after one of the strongest tropical storms on record leveled tens of thousands of houses in the central Philippines, relief operations were only starting to pick up pace, with two more airports in the region reopening, allowing for more aid flights.

But minimal food and water were reaching people in the devastated city of Tacloban, on Leyte island, which bore the brunt of the storm, and outlying regions due to a lack of trucks and blocked roads.

“There’s a bit of a logjam to be absolutely honest getting stuff in here,” said Sebastian Rhodes Stampa, from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

In the first reported deaths as a result of looting, eight people were crushed to death Tuesday when a wall collapsed as they and thousands of others stormed a rice warehouse on Leyte Island, said National Food Authority spokesman Rex Estoperez.

The looters in Alangalang municipality carted away up to 100,000 sacks of rice.

Since the storm, people have broken into homes, malls and garages, where they have stripped the shelves of food, water and other goods. Authorities have struggled to stop the looting. There have been unconfirmed reports of armed gangs involved in some instances.

Police were working to keep order across the ravaged wasteland. An 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew was in place.

“We have restored order,” said Carmelo Espina Valmoria, director of the Philippine National Police special action force. “There has been looting for the last three days, (but) the situation has stabilized.”

U.S. Brig Gen. Paul Kennedy said today that his troops would install equipment at Tacloban airport to allow planes to land at night. Tacloban, a city of 220,000, was almost completely destroyed and has become the main relief hub.

“You are not just going to see Marines and a few planes and some helicopters,” Kennedy said. “You will see the entire Pacific Command respond to this crisis.”