Tropical Cyclone Dovi has left New Caledonia waters but it has caused flooding and downed power lines as authorities issued a rescue alert across the territory.
Authorities say other areas in the southeast of the French territory have telephone lines down.
Tropical Cyclone Dovi causes flooding in New Caledonia Photo: La premiere nouvelle caledonie
Authorities are currently assessing the damage.
Weather stations in the southern province measured winds of up to 80 km/h and gusts in the north-west reached up to 154 km/h last night.
Roads are closed due to flooding in parts of New Caledonia Photo: La premiere nouvelle caledonie
The cyclone, which has intensified to a category three, has moved away from New Caledonia waters and is heading towards open waters.
The New Zealand Met Service said Dovi could possibly intensify to a category 4 cyclone as it moves away from the tropics.
Vanuatu
Dozens of families in Vanuatu are staying in refugee centres due to "extensive" flooding in the capital.
Tropical Cyclone Dovi has turned roads into violent rivers in low lying areas including one major road leading out of Port Vila.
"We've had a few dozen families in the outlying areas of Port Vila evacuated to refugee centres, nonetheless, the red alert warning has been lifted as of last night by the National Disaster Management Office and now we are focused on clean up and recovery," Port Vila-based journalist Dan McGarry said.
McGarry said there has been "extremely bad" weather and now the focus is turning to clean up and recovery.
He said, "Right now we are still assessing the damage, we've seen bridges out on the southern island of Tanna...we have families displaced, I think today will largely be a stocktake by the authorities and then we will be rolling up our sleeves and be getting into it."