Mass looting in Argentina kills two (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Vandals have pillaged several supermarkets in Argentina killing two people and injuring at least two dozen on Friday.

­The police, who described the acts as simple looting not protests, said that 20 supermarkets in the cities of Rosario and Villa Gobernador Galvez had been plundered. Two people were murdered with a sharp object in the violence which also witnessed gunfire. Around 25 people were injured and 130 arrested during the looting about 190 miles northeast of Buenos Aires.

Riot police used rubber bullets to stop a mob from attacking a supermarket in San Fernando, in Buenos Aires province. Other stores have closed fearing the widespread robbery. 

Friday’s actions followed scenes on Thursday when 400 military policemen were deployed in the Patagonian ski resort of Bariloche as dozens of people broke into a supermarket and carried away televisions and other electronics. 

The unrest is reminiscent of the violence during Argentina’s economic crisis in 2001, when angry mobs overran supermarkets and shops.

People run with goods stolen from a supermarket in Bariloche, Argentina on December 20, 2012 (AFP Photo/NA-El Cordillerano)

Looters force a lateral door of a supermarket in San Fernando, Buenos Aires province on December 21, 2012. (AFP Photo/Juan Mabromata)

A policeman opens fire at people who tried to loot a supermarket in San Fernando, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires December 21, 2012. (Reuters/Enrique Marcarian)

eople who tried to loot a supermarket throw stones at police in San Fernando, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires December 21, 2012. (Reuters/Enrique Marcarian)

A policeman fires tear gas at people who tried to loot a supermarket and throw stones at them in San Fernando, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires December 21, 2012. (Reuters/Enrique Marcarian)

A man kicks a teargas canister during clashes between looters and the police in San Fernando, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires December 21, 2012. (Reuters/Enrique Marcarian)

Policemen open fire at people who tried to loot a supermarket in San Fernando, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires December 21, 2012. (Reuters/Enrique Marcarian)

People who tried to loot a supermarket throw stones at the police in San Fernando, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires December 21, 2012. (Reuters/Enrique Marcarian)

Policemen arrest two men suspected to be looters in San Fernando, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires December 21, 2012. (Reuters/Enrique Marcarian)

People remain outside a looted supermarket in San Fernando, Buenos Aires province on December 21, 2012. (AFP Photo/Juan Mabromata)

Employees react at a gas station that was ransacked by looters in San Fernando, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires December 21, 2012. (Reuters/Enrique Marcarian)

People enter a looted market in San Fernando, outskirsts of Buenos Aires December 21, 2012. (Reuters/Marcos Brindicci)

Employees of a looted gas station react in San Fernando, Buenos Aires province on December 21, 2012. (AFP Photo/Telam – Martin Acosta)

Employees of a looted gas station react in San Fernando, Buenos Aires province on December 21, 2012. (AFP Photo/Telam – Martin Acosta)