TACLOBAN, Philippines — Stunned survivors of one of the most powerful typhoons ever to make landfall picked through the remains of their homes Monday, pleading for food and medicine as the Philippines struggled to deal with what may turn out to be its deadliest natural disaster.

Authorities estimate at least 2 million people in 41 provinces had been affected by Friday’s disaster and at least 23,000 houses had been damaged or destroyed. In parts of the coast, large areas had been transformed into twisted piles of debris, with decomposing bodies trapped underneath.

“In some cases the devastation has been total,” said Secretary to the Cabinet Rene Almendras.

Officials estimated Sunday the death toll could reach 10,000 or more. On Monday, the central government said it was still trying to come up with an accurate tally. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said “we pray” that it wouldn’t hit 10,000.

“Please tell my family I’m alive,” said Erika Mae Karakot, a survivor on Leyte island, as she lined up for aid. “We need water and medicine because a lot of the people we are with are wounded. Some are suffering from diarrhea and dehydration due to shortage of food and water.”

The U.S. military dispatched water, generators and a contingent of Marines to the worst-hit city along the country’s remote eastern seaboard, the first outside help in what will swell into a major international relief mission in the coming days.

Two U.S. C-130 transport planes flew from Manila’s Vilamor air base to Tacloban, a city in Leyte province that was badly hit by the storm. From the air, the city resembled a garbage dump punctuated by a few concrete buildings that remained standing.

“We are moving in supplies for the Filipino government,” said Marine Capt. Cassandra Gesecki. “That’s what they asked us to do.”

Survivors wandered through the remains of their flattened wooden homes looking to salvage belongings or to search for loved ones. An Associated Press reporter in the town said he saw around 400 special forces and soldiers patrolling its downtown area, where residents have been seen breaking into malls, shops and homes, taking food, water and consumer goods.

Haiyan hit the eastern seaboard of the Philippines on Friday and quickly barreled across its central islands, packing winds of 235 kph (147 mph) that gusted to 275 kph (170 mph), and a storm surge of 6 meters (20 feet).

Even though authorities had evacuated some 800,000 people ahead of the typhoon, the death toll was predicted to be high because many evacuation centers — brick-and-mortar schools, churches and government buildings — could not withstand the winds and water surges. Officials said people who had huddled in these buildings drowned or were swept away.

It inflicted serious damage to at least six islands in the middle of the eastern seaboard, with Leyte, Samar and the northern part of Cebu appearing to bear the brunt of the storm.

Video from Eastern Samar province’s Guiuan township — the first area where the typhoon made landfall — also showed a trail of devastation similar to Tacloban. Many houses were flattened and roads were strewn with debris and uprooted trees. The ABS-CBN video showed several bodies on the street, covered with blankets.

10,000
Possible death toll from the typhoon in the Philippines.

2 million
Estimated number of people effected.

23,000
Estimated number of houses destroyed or damaged.