The president of a Pacific island nation devastated by a tropical cyclone says he "fears the worst" as the first aid teams reached the disaster zone.
Up to 50 people are reported to have been killed by Cyclone Pam, which brought winds of more than 185mph when it struck Vanuatu, levelling homes, smashing up boats, destroying roads and bridges, and bringing down power and phone lines.
But aid agencies say the real number is expected likely to be much higher as rescuers reach the outlying islands.
Thousands have been left homeless on the archipelago.
A Red Cross spokesman described the situation as "apocalyptic" and Vanuatu's government has declared a state of emergency.
President Baldwin Lonsdale, who happened to be at a disaster risk conference in Japan, compared the storm to a monster.
He said most houses in the capital Port Vila had been damaged or destroyed.
President Lonsdale said the impact would be "the very, very, very worst" in isolated outer islands but he held out hope the number of casualties would be "minor".
He had earlier made a tearful appeal for international assistance.
Aid workers were particularly concerned about the southern island of Tanna, about 125 miles south of the capital, Port Vila.
An official with the Australian Red Cross said an aircraft had managed to land there and confirmed "widespread destruction".
"Virtually every building that is not concrete has been flattened," the official said.
Witnesses in Port Vila described sea surges of up to 26ft (8m) and widespread flooding.
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Gallery: Fears Dozens Killed By Powerful Cyclone Pam
At least 10 people have been killed by Cyclone Pam, after winds of more than 185mph struck the South Pacific's Vanuatu archipelago
The streets of Porta Vila are littered with debris and uprooted trees
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