Monica Scott arrived at Sydney airport hoping her father would be on this afternoon's plane from Vanuatu. Their reunion an outpouring of emotion and relief.
"Just praying, praying for it to end. Praying for the sun to come up."
Ralph Scott only booked his ticket there last week. His Pacific holiday became a harrowing tale of survival.
"It was utter devastation and I have never ever seen anything like that. It was just terrible," Mr Scott said.
Another tourist Bev Keenan said, "I laid on the bathroom floor with my legs up against the door hoping I would survive."
"It's the worst case scenario, basically this cyclone is something that's beyond the experience of the Pacific."
Newly-weds Michael Gibson and Donna Turner were on their honeymoon. It turned into a dramatic evacuation.
"Just praying, praying for it to end. Praying for the sun to come up."
As aid groups continue to assess the damage wrought by Cyclone Pam, the latest news coming out of Vanuatu is grim.
"It's the worst case scenario, basically this cyclone is something that's beyond the experience of the Pacific."
Three RAAF planes have arrived in Vanuatu carrying aid with another two leaving Queensland's Amberley air base today.
"We have sent medicine supplies, sanitation kits, water hygiene kits and shelter for those who are homeless and today we are finding our teams on the ground are able to deliver those kits to those in need," Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told reporters.
Pledging $5 million in recovery aid, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said 1,500 Australians were known to be in Vanuatu.
Oxfam estimates about a 100,000 people have been left homeless.
The overriding message from aid groups to Australians is to dig deep, as one of our closest neighbours braces for a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented proportions.
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