Flood-ravaged New Orleans descends into anarchy

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.

“This is a desperate SOS,” Mayor Ray Nagin said.

As New Orleans was gripped by anarchy, US President George W Bush said the shutdowns of refineries in the Gulf Coast region because of Hurricane Katrina would bring a “temporary” disruption to the energy industry.