Residents of the Micronesian State of Chuuk were struggling to clear the roads of huge pieces of debris and return to damaged homes as Super Typhoon Maysak cut a destructive path across the central Pacific leaving at least five dead.

Crops were ruined and water supplies contaminated, with fears people faced starvation if they did not receive aid soon, after the violent storm took three days to cross the vast Federated States of Micronesia.

There was extensive damage to "schools, health facilities, public utilities, private residences", he said, as well as "the sinking of several fishing, passenger and dive ships."

Chuuk resident Hiroyuki Mori said he spent the day trying to clear the roads with other villagers using chainsaws, adding that many families abandoned their homes and sought refuge in more solid structures, including local hotels, as Maysak pounded the archipelago.

"There were debris everywhere," the 27-year-old told AFP from Weno Island, which is part of Chuuk.

"Trees fell on our houses and parts of the roof tore up. Everyone in my compound, which are all family members, suffered damage to their homes as well."

Maysak, with sustained winds of 260 kilometres per hour (160 miles per hour), slammed into Chuuk on Sunday night and crossed the vast archipelago of 607 islands before battering the Yap group of islands on Wednesday and heading out to sea towards the Philippines.

The typhoon appears to have now weakened with maximum winds down to about 190 kilometres per hour (118 miles per hour) and gusts of 225 kilometres per hour (140 miles per hour), the Philippine government weather station said.

Rest of article here plus photos.

https://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/26885036/state-of-emergency-as-super-typhoon-batters-micronesia/