Troops are called in to stop looters armed with guns and machetes on hurricane-ravaged St Martin as food, water and medicine runs out
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte warns looting on St Martin a ‘serious’ problem
Extra troops called in to stop looters who witnesses say have guns and machetes
Many ‘are surviving without power and running water’ after Hurricane Irma hit
Up to 95 per cent of the island was destroyed in 185mph winds on Wednesday
By JULIAN ROBINSON
DAILYMAIL.COM
8 September 2017
Troops are being called in to stop looters armed with guns and machetes on hurricane-ravaged St Martin with food, water and medicine running low, it has emerged.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte warned the situation was already ‘serious’ and made worse by communication problems after 185mph Irma laid waste to infrastructure.
Witnesses on the Dutch side of the island say people are roaming the streets armed with ‘revolvers and machetes’ while Rutte said most people are surviving without power and running water.
Extra troops and police are arriving on the southern part of the island, which is shared between France and the Netherlands, and part of their job is to help keep order, officials said.
Up to 95 per cent of the island was destroyed as the hurricane pummeled its shores on Wednesday.
The badly damaged airport and port have now ‘been opened for military purposes,’ Rutte told reporters, adding ‘we are doing everything possible to get aid to the area.’
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