Two days of protests and looting in western Venezuela over food shortages have left at least three people dead and 16 more injured, wrote foxnews.com.

The mayor of Arapuey in the state of Merida told El Universal newspaper that among the dead is a 17-year-old who was shot during a demonstration which took place on Wednesday and two others hit by gunfire Thursday at a business where people had formed a line for food.

Separately, the president of the National Federal of Cattle Ranchers says at least two farms were attacked by mobs of people who slaughtered cows.

An opposition lawmaker posted a video on Twitter showing a dozen men attacking a cow with rocks and a machete as one says, "We are hungry."

Venezuela is in the middle of deepening economic crisis.