City in exile
More than a million people were evacuated from the New Orleans and the surrounding areas before the hurricane struck on Monday, but Mayor Ray Nagin has estimated that up to 100,000 people decided to stay in the city.
During the storm, more than 9,000 people took shelter at the Superdome, but once the extent of the damage became clear the numbers swelled to 20,000.
The BBC's Alistair Leithead in New Orleans says there is a feeling of foreboding as those marooned become more desperate.
There is no electricity, and people who have lost everything are struggling to find food and clean water.
People have faced shoot-outs and some reports say martial law has been imposed across parts of the city. Armed gangs have moved into some hotels.
People have been breaking into shops, houses, hospitals and office buildings.
Thieves used a forklift truck to break into a pharmacy, AP news agency reports, while dozens of car-jackings have been reported.
Louisiana state Governor Kathleen Blanco said she was "furious" at the growing crime wave.
She has asked Washington to send more people to help with the relief mission, to free National Guard troops to concentrate on looters.
news.bbc.co.uk |
