Over 100 people from the Saint Henri Catholic mission on south Pentecost in central Vanuatu evacuated their homes at the weekend, because of the odour from a decaying whale.
The 11 metre whale was already dead when it washed ashore last week.
A local Michel Buleman says the people from Saint Henri have gone to stay with relatives in other villages.
He says it is the first time such a large whale has been washed ashore there.
Mr Buleman says they don't know how the animal died but it's got a big cut on its back and a damaged jaw.