‘The hurricane was ugly. The people were worse.’

TROOPS and federal police moved in yesterday to quell looting at stores and shopping centres ripped open by Hurricane Wilma, while hunger and frustration mounted among residents and tourists stranded in one of Mexico’s most prosperous resorts.

Hundreds of people emptied entire downtown blocks of merchandise on Sunday, hiding when soldiers appeared, then returning to tear down metal shutters and haul off clothing, appliances and anything else they could find.

Police shot in the air to scare away looters, and some crowds responded by throwing rocks and chunks of concrete. Officers evacuated more than 30 foreigners from one area, fearing the mobs might turn on tourists.