INCHEON, South Korea (AP) — As they left behind gutted homes, scorched trees and rubble-strewn streets, residents of the tiny South Korean island shelled by North Korea told harrowing tales Wednesday of fiery destruction and narrow escapes.

Ann Ahe-ja, one of hundreds of exhausted evacuees from Yeonpyeong island arriving in the port of Incheon on a rescue ship, said Tuesday's artillery barrage that killed four people — two of them civilians — had caught her by surprise.

"Over my head, a pine tree was broken and burning," Ann told AP Television News. "So I thought 'Oh, this is not an...