Tigrayan rebels have ransacked and destroyed key infrastructure in Kombolcha town almost immediately after they arrived in the town two weeks ago, South Wollo Zone Chief Administrator Abdi Hussein told the Reporter newspaper on Sunday.

Although it is difficult to establish an exact figure, fighters from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) have looted offices of state agencies, banks, cars, shops and markets, he said.

In addition to the public and government property, the rebels also looted and destroyed facilities such as schools and health stations, the Chief Administrator told the newspaper. Electricity Corporation was destroyed, and looting removed much of the distribution and transmission systems, he said.

It was disclosed a month ago that TPLF forces looted around 268 excavators, dozers, dam trucks, and other machines from the Awash-Kombolcha-Hara Gebeya railway project under construction at a cost of $ 1.7 billion.

On November 1, TPLF forces said they have captured the town of Kombolcha.