A cyclone has ravaged the islands of French Polynesia.

Cyclone Oli killed at least one person and caused wide-scale damage to property as it roared through the island group at speeds of up 185 kilometres an hour on Thursday. At least 4000 people were forced to evacuate their homes and seek a safe haven until it passed. Communications with the islands have been severely disrupted.

On Tahiti, the main island in the group, which lies in the Pacific Ocean, several hundred people were forced to abandon houses near the coast. Airports and harbours were closed and only the emergency services were allowed to used the roads.

Cyclone Oli has now left the islands and is heading south, apparently gaining in strength.

Flag of French Polynesia