Economic Indicators

Photos: Marawi City in the Philippines is basically destroyed after months of fighting

Damaged houses and buildings in Marawi.
Damaged houses and buildings in Marawi.
Image: Reuters/Romeo Ranoco
By
Steve Mollman
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In early June, Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte predicted that the recently begun fighting in Marawi City between government forces and ISIL-linked militants would be over in three days. He was off by five months.

Last week, Duterte declared the city, on the restive southern island of Mindanao, “liberated from the terrorists’ influence,” and earlier this week battle operations officially ended.

What’s left is basically a destroyed city. Now begins the rebuilding, helped by heavy equipment—excavators, dump trucks, cement mixers—recently donated by China. Judging by photos taken this week, it’s going to take a while:

A signage of "I love Marawi" is seen in front of damaged houses, buildings and a mosque inside a war-torn Marawi city, southern Philippines October 26, 2017, after the Philippines on Monday announced the end of five months of military operations in a southern city held by pro-Islamic State rebels.
A sign reading “I love Marawi” is seen in front of damaged houses, buildings and a mosque.
Image: Reuters/Romeo Ranoco
A graffiti that reads "I love ISIS" is seen in a damaged building in Marawi city, Philippines, October 25, 2017.
Graffiti reading “I love ISIS” is seen in a damaged building.
Image: Reuters/Romeo Ranoco
Government soldiers stand in front of damaged houses and buildings in Marawi city, Philippines, October 25, 2017.
Government soldiers stand in front of damaged houses and buildings.
Image: Reuters/Romeo Ranoco
A damaged mosque is seen in Marawi city, Philippines, October 25, 2017.
A damaged mosque.
Image: Reuters/Romeo Ranoco
Damaged houses, buildings and a mosque are seen in Marawi city, Philippines, October 25, 2017.
Damaged houses, buildings, and a mosque.
Image: Reuters/Romeo Ranoco
Damaged houses, buildings, and a mosque are seen inside Marawi city, Philippines, October 25, 2017.
Damaged houses, buildings, and a mosque.
Image: Reuters/Romeo Ranoco
Damaged buildings and houses are seen in Marawi city, Philippines October 25, 2017.
Damaged buildings and houses.
Image: Reuters/Romeo Ranoco
A government soldier stands guard in front of damaged buildings in Marawi city, Philippines October 25, 2017.
A government soldier stands guard in front of damaged buildings.
Image: Reuters/Romeo Ranoco
Damaged buildings and houses are seen in Marawi city, Philippines October 25, 2017.
Damaged buildings and houses.
Image: Reuters/Romeo Ranoco
Damaged buildings and houses are seen in Marawi city, Philippines October 25, 2017.
Damaged buildings and houses.
Image: Reuters/Romeo Ranoco
Damaged buildings are seen inside a war-torn area in Marawi City, southern Philippines October 24, 2017, after the Philippines announced on Monday the end of five months of military operations in a southern city held by pro-Islamic State rebels.
Damaged buildings.
Image: Reuters/Romeo Ranoco