World Focus: Returning to ground zero: Marawi struggles to rebuild
The minaret of Marawi’s largest mosque, in an area that was once a thriving commercial hub. Officials say the mosque will have to be demolished and rebuilt from scratch. When The Straits Times visited the area two weeks ago, the smell of war – a mixture of odours from rubbish, decay and death – was still lingering in the air.PHOTO: CRISTINA MENINA FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
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A narrow tunnel leading to a bunker where the remains of two men, presumably militants, were discovered. More than 1,000 soldiers, rebels and civilians were killed in the fighting, and hundreds were listed as missing. PHOTO: CRISTINA MENINA FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
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Very few structures were left standing after the army rained artillery shells and bombs to flush out the militants. Those still standing are nothing more than empty hulls – just four corners of a house.PHOTO: CRISTINA MENINA FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
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Hairdresser Macsi Miraata was unable to immediately flee Marawi as he needed to evacuate his nephews and nieces first. He hid in a basement for two days, surviving on noodles, and papayas and sweet potatoes from a small garden he tended. PHOTO: CRISTINA MENINA FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
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One year after militants occupied Marawi city, its residents are slowly rebuilding
In just one year, Ms Sohailah Usman lost everything – her large, two-storey house and an assortment of small businesses she used to run in this city.
The district where her home once stood is now called “ground zero”.
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