French Polynesia remains on cyclone alert

12:30 pm on 29 February 2016

A orange alert remains in force in the western parts of French Polynesia as strong winds and rain continue.

Tropical Cyclone Yalo in the south has broken up but a broad front is sweeping the most populated islands.

On Rangiora in the Tuamotu archipelago, the heaviest downpour in living memory caused flooding of dozens of homes, with the mayor quoted as saying more than half a meter of rain fell during the night.

The mayor said the flooding would not allow the primary school to open tomorrow.