The true scale of destruction caused by the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year still remains unknown.
Super Typhoon Rai has killed at least 375 people since it rippled through the archipelago last week, leaving more than 500 injured and 56 still missing.
The Category 5 typhoon ripped through the province of Bohol where Corey Parson's wife's family lives.
"There is one room that still has a roof on which is what they sheltered in during the storm," Parson told Newshub.
Living in Nelson, he's been watching the devastation with his wife who he met in the Philippines.
Seven of her relatives, including a newborn baby, are coming to terms with what remains.
"Rice is a staple there and we managed to secure them a sack of rice," Parson said. "I think power is still out and some people have generators. I think there is a nearby person that has a generator, so they’ve been able to charge devices, smartphones and such."
Super Typhoon Rai left a trail of destruction. It's the strongest to hit this year with winds over 210kmph before it blew out into the South China Sea on Friday.
According to the United Nations, it affected 1.8 million people and displaced 630,000.
People were evacuated to a sports complex on the holiday island of Siargao where they used tables to protect themselves against flying debris.
"There was no roof," ? said. "There was no wall and the entire nature of force was like bashing on us full power and full force we had nothing there."
"Surigao is barely recognisable at the moment," Natalie Senaca, a resident of the town of San Francisco of Surigao del Norte said. "It's heartbreaking, but, at the same time, seeing the destruction also made me mad because it made me realise that we've become the victims of the climate crisis that most people try to ignore."
Officials and aid agencies are struggling to get help where it's needed. The Philippines Government has pledged $40 million in support but in the Bohol region, the Governor says it's not enough.
"The situation is very bad because the ?? was affected by the super typhoon," Arthur C. Yap said. "The entire province was inside the typhoon. It was very very strong. The destruction was very big."
New Zealand has sent $500,000 to the Red Cross to support their ongoing relief efforts.
For Parson and his wife, they're grateful their family is safe.
"There are people in much worse situations than our family there. I really feel for them," Parson said.
