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A huge tropical cyclone smashed into Vanuatu in the South Pacific, terrifying residents and leaving "complete devastation" with fears Saturday that dozens of people may have died, AFP reported.

UNICEF New Zealand said Saturday Super Tropical Cyclone Pam could be one of the worst weather disasters for the Pacific.

"While it is too early to say for certain, early reports are indicating that this weather disaster could potentially be one of the worst in Pacific history," New Zealand executive director Vivien Maidaborn said in a statement.

"The sheer force of the storm combined with communities just not set up to withstand it, could have devastating results for thousands across the region."

Powerlines and communications are down for much of Vanuatu and the Port Vila airport remained closed. UNICEF said its biggest concerns were now about ensuring shelter for those impacted.

UNICEF's Pacific communications specialist Alice Clements, who is in Port Vila, said it was clear that the full force of Cyclone Pam was dramatically worse than predicted and would be a catastrophe for Vanuatu.

"I saw the sliding doors from my three storey hotel room completely blow away -- it was terrifying," she said.

"We have some very unconfirmed reports of casualties from the outer islands as well but we're waiting to get official confirmation on those, which is very sad news if it's true."

The full extent of the damage is unknown, with limited communications in place after maximum category five storm Cyclone Pam slammed directly into the island country with winds up to 330 kilometres (205 miles) an hour overnight.

"We could see some loss of life, potentially serious loss but we don't know yet," Sune Gudnitz, who heads the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Pacific, told AFP.

"The feedback is that there appears to be quite widespread devastation. There is debris in the streets and widespread flooding."

The UN had unconfirmed reports of 44 people killed in one province.