A cyclone hit early Saturday morning with winds of up to 130 miles per hour.

Groups of residents are lining up to buy candles and without electric pumps there is a desperate need for fresh water. Those not injured are working round the clock to cut away trees in order to clear roads for emergency crews.

Thousands are feared dead and hundreds of thousands are homeless.

There are several hundred people living here in Hawaii with family in Myanmar. We're told only one has been able to successfully get through on the phone.

The pictures show only a fraction of the devastation. The cyclone blew through the most populated city in the country. The government estimates 10,000 people have died.

"We are of course shaken by the numbers because when the government says 10,000 you know it’s more,” said Tin Myaing Thin, Executive Director of the Pacific Gateway Center and member of the Myanmar Association of Hawaii.

Tin Myaing Thein was born in Myanmar. Her siblings still live there and she hasn't been able to contact them since the power and phone lines are down.

"I pray for the best but prepared for the worst. They are in the middle of town and I'm hoping the tall building would have protected them," said Myaing Thein.

"People lack safe water for drinking, there's a lack of food," said Dr. Carl Lum.

Dr. Lum has gone on three medical missions to Myanmar and has another planned trip in October. When he was there last time he operated on dozens of people.

"There's a tremendous need for medical assistance for the poor," Dr. Lum said.

He fears things will get far worse. It's only the start of the rainy monsoon season and with so many roofs damaged disease could spread quickly.

Myanmar is an isolationist country that has shut itself off from the rest of the world and even told foreigners to leave. So the fact they're now accepting help from the outside world is huge.

"In the tsunami of 2004 they didn't accept any help, but this time they did so it really tells you the situation is dire," Thein said.

She is raising money for basic supplies like water purification tablets, food, medicine and clothing.

"From what I hear the people there can sustain themselves maybe 5 more days with whatever food they have so time is of the essence we have to get this done and quickly," Thein said.

If you'd like to help, the Myanmar Association of Hawaii is collecting monetary donations. You can email Tin Myaing Thein at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  for more information or you can write a check made out to the Myanmar Association of Hawaii and mail it to 720 N. King Street, Honolulu, HI 96817.  Write Myanmar Cyclone Relief on your check.

The American Red Cross is also helping (to donate click here). Be sure to indicate Myanmar Cyclone if you want your donation to specifically go to that relief effort.

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