A CITY in Brazil begged the army to come to its rescue today - after the police went on strike leaving residents at the mercy of rampaging criminals.

Bodies littered the streets, shops were looted and buses set on fire just two days after the walkout began in chaotic scenes compared to movie thriller The Purge.

4 A bloodied man rests after being caught up in lawless chaos in Espirito Santo, Brazil Credit: Twitter/otariano

4 Buses were set on fire after criminals took over the streets as cops went on strike Credit: Twitter/otariano

4 Pictures on social media appear to show several dead bodies on the streets as thugs rampage through Vitoria with guns and machetes Credit: Twitter/otariano

Schools were forced to close and residents shuttered themselves inside as thugs rampaged with guns and machetes through Vitoria and nearby towns in the coastal state of Espirito Santa, north of Rio.

As terrified locals shared images of the carnage on social media, one said: "The thugs are randomly shooting at anyone who passes the street in Espírito Santo. My God what is happening."

Another told the website Political Outsource: "I won't even leave my house today.

'Things are absolutely crazy, there are people running around with guns in pretty populated areas, dozens of people stealing from malls, even dead bodies on streets."

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Cesar Colnago, the acting governor of Espirito Santo state, begged President Michel Temer "to send the National Force and the army to safeguard the security of citizens."

Military police have walked out on Saturday in a dispute over unpaid salaries, and have been blockading police stations aided by relatives and sympathisers.

With no patrols on the streets over the weekend, murder, rape and other crime has multiplied in the city of 1.8million people.

Brazilian television broadcast footage of burned and smashed buses, looted shops, and a crowd running in panic from what appeared to be gunshots.

Video of the fleeing crowd was posted on Twitter with the comment: "The police in Espírito Santo are on strike and look what is happening."

Students meant to be heading to their first day of school stayed at home and classrooms will remain shuttered "depending on the security situation," said a spokesman for the mayor's office in state capital Vitoria.

Football matches were also reportedly cancelled.

4 Crime has rocketed in Espirito Santo after the military police went on strike over unpaid salaries Credit: Twitter/otariano

Locals have said the scenes are like 2014 movie The Purge, in which a lawless night of terror leads to horrific crimes.

State security chief Andre Garcia said on his Facebook page that the police chief had been replaced and that the new commander was tasked with "restoring order and discipline."

He said talks would take place with the disgruntled officers "but with the fundamental condition that police are put on the streets.

"All possible means will be used to police the streets."

The government has threatened to file a lawsuit against the force, claiming the strike is illegal.

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