Eight People Crushed to Death During Looting Rampage in Typhoon-Hit Philippines City

Tragedy occurs as thousands storm food warehouse

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Erik de Castro / Reuters

Typhoon victims queue for free rice at a businessman's warehouse in Tacloban city, which was battered by Typhoon Haiyan, in central Philippines November 12, 2013.

Officials say at least eight people were killed as thousands of people rushed into a government rice warehouse in Leyte Province’s Alangalang municipality on Tuesday, days after Supertyphoon Haiyan cut through the area.

The eight victims were reportedly crushed to death when a warehouse wall collapsed during the melee. National Food Authority spokesman Rex Estoperez told AP that the looters carted away approximately 100,000 sacks of rice.

Philippine officials have struggled to maintain law and order in the country’s central region, which bore the brunt of last week’s supertyphoon. With the government and relief agencies struggling to meet the needs of the millions of people who have been affected by the storm, citizens have resorted to looting in order to secure food and water.

[AP]