Half a million people flee cyclone 'bigger than France'

An immense, powerful cyclone that lashed the Indian coast, forcing 500,000 people to evacuate and causing widespread damage.

Five people died in the rains that fell ahead of the storm, most killed by falling branches, Indian media reported, but the situation on the ground in many areas was still unclear after Cyclone Phailin slammed into the coast on Saturday evening in Orissa state, where power and communications lines were down along much of the coastline.