A town officer on the Tongan island of 'Eua says up to 75 percent of houses in her communities have been damaged by Cyclone Gita.
Just over a week ago the then category four storm swept over 'Eua, which lies some 40 kilometres southeast of the main island of Tongatapu.
Melenaite Sisifa Fili said most of the homes in the six villages she oversees were impacted significantly by the storm with nearly 30 percent destroyed.
There are seven evacuation centres on the island which still harbour a number of families.
But Ms Fili said the initial clean-up has been successful, thanks to the community coming together.
"Everyone stood up and gave a hand too... They all worked as a team, the police and all those people whose houses were not damage, they all went out and lent a hand to all those people.
"And that's why everything was quick to be recovered on this island."