Hundreds of extra police are being sent to the Caribbean island of St Martin after reports of people breaking into shops following the devastation of Hurricane Irma, French and Dutch politicians said.
The storm tore through the popular holiday island, which is divided between France and the Netherlands, leaving at least five people dead and major shortages of water, petrol and food.
“The situation is serious,” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Friday when asked about reports of looting on the island — known as Sint Maarten in Dutch — adding that extra troops and police were on their way.
Speaking to the Dutch daily Algemeen Dagblad (AD), one witness said: “There are people with guns and machetes in the street. It’s really serious. No one is in charge.”
French overseas territories minister Annick Girardin said “pillaging took place right in front of us” during a trip to St Martin, where a majority of the 80,000 inhabitants have lost their homes.
Around 400 police officers would be sent to the French side of the island and to the nearby territory of St Barthelemy, she said.
