The calm of the craggy outpost of Yeonpyeong was shattered on Tuesday when North Korea unleashed a barrage of missiles and shells that killed four people and sent most of its terrified residents fleeing for the mainland.

Lost dogs roamed through charred ruins in search of food, shattered window glass sparkled on the ground, and an abandoned children's pram was testimony to the hasty departure of one panicked family.

The atmosphere was tense, with rifle-toting soldiers wearing vests and helmets in streets that were otherwise eerily quiet.

Soldiers stood in line and passed along boxes of supplies such as bottled water, candy and fruits being unloaded from boats as messages relayed by loudspeaker urged residents to leave the island.

Uncollected clothes hung from washing lines on the front yard of a house with charred and crumbled walls.

Shin Yoo-Taek, 71, who was born on the island, said he was staying because of his dozens of pigs.

On Tuesday, he said, he went to the marine barracks to pick up leftover food for the pigs. "Then suddenly fire rained down all over the place. I thought we were in the middle of brush fires until a loudspeaker told us of the attack.

"All my family apart from my son, who is a firefighter, and myself have left the island."

Noh Young-Chul, a 60-year-old, was also staying despite fears of another bombardment.

"I am worried that the North might attack us again," when US and South Korean forces carry out a joint military exercise on Sunday, he told AFP. "But I won't leave here."

The attack was the first time the North had shelled civilian areas in the South since the 1950-53 war.

"Thank God the shells didn't reach the pre-school and elementary school," where children were studying at the time, said coast guard Jo Young-Hyun.

But administrative offices, military facilities, a police station and homes were hit.

The barrage destroyed a total of 22 buildings, knocked out electricity to half the population and started fires that blackened 25 hectares (62 acres) of forest.

Local officials said restoration work would cost some 40 million dollars.

Park Sun-Bi, 85, a long-time resident, was about to join the exodus with her son, who had taken the ferry on Thursday to come and get her.

"I'm just going to pack some things I need. Why stay here? There's nobody here now. They're all gone," she told a reporter.

"I wonder when I will ever return."

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