Tacloban, Philippines: A city on the edge

Early this morning, as I was sleeping on a sofa at a house in San Jose district in Tacloban where we were spending the night in, I heard a woman's distant scream.

Then, I heard men running about and shouting, and after that the dogs began barking.

The men, volunteer neighbourhood watchmen, were running after some thieves who tried to break into a house.

Residents of San Jose, not as severely hit by Typhoon Haiyan, have been on the edge since looters and thousands of escaped convicts began prowling the streets of Tacloban.

Martial law is in effect over the city, as a curfew is in place from 7pm to 5am. Soldiers constantly patrol the main roads.

rdancel@sph.com.sg

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