Communications to the islands were knocked out when the powerful storm hit on Monday and the scale of damage is only now becoming clear.
Cyclone Harold went on to cause significant damage in Fiji and has entered Tonga's waters today.
New Zealander Glen Craig, managing partner of the Pacific Business Resilience Council, chartered a Cessna, then a boat and was among the first people to make contact with some of the worst hit-islands.
He told RNZ destruction was widespread.
