FIGHTS and fires broke out, corpses lay out in the open and rescue helicopters and law enforcement officers were shot at as flooded-out New Orleans descended into anarchy yesterday.

FIGHTS and fires broke out at the hot and stinking Superdome yesterday and anger and unrest mounted as New Orleans descended into chaos.

AS a public health catastrophe unfolded in New Orleans, hospitals in the Crescent City sank further into disaster, airlifting babies without their parents to other states and struggling with more sick people appearing at their doors.

Fights and rubbish fires broke out, rescue helicopters were shot at and anger mounted across New Orleans today, as National Guardsmen in armoured vehicles poured in to help restore order across this increasingly desperate and lawless city.