Australia, New Zealand send planes to evacuate nationals from New Caledonia
NEWCASTLE, Australia (AP) — Australia and New Zealand sent airplanes to New Caledonia on Tuesday to begin bringing home stranded citizens from the violence-wracked French South Pacific territory.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia had received clearance from French authorities for two flights to evacuate citizens from the archipelago, where indigenous people have long sought independence from France.
Hours later, a Royal Australian Air Force C-130 Hercules touched down in Noumea, the capital. The plane can carry 124 passengers, according to the Defense Department.
“We continue to work on further flights,” Wong wrote on the social media platform X on Tuesday.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said 300 Australians were in New Caledonia. It did not immediately confirm whether the Australian-organized flights would also evacuate other stranded foreign nationals, believed to number in the thousands.
Related articles
Israeli army says it kills over 130 militants in E. Rafah
JERUSALEM, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have killed more than 130 militants in2024-05-21Sabalenka eases past Ostapenko to reach Italian Open semifinals. Tabilo extends his surprising run
ROME (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka showed no ill-effects from her previous marathon match as she eased past2024-05-21Inside Harry and Meghan's 'discreet' £3,000
This is the luxury presidential suite where Harry and Meghan stayed on their trip to Nigeria – as of2024-05-21Oakland Ballers make request to purchase old Coliseum bleacher seats used by NFL's Raiders
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The new Oakland Ballers independent baseball team is hoping to incorporate a2024-05-21Investigators return to Long Island home of Gilgo Beach serial killing suspect
MASSAPEQUA PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Investigators returned Monday to the home of a New York architect charg2024-05-21Bride and groom BLASTED for giving their wedding guests 'unreasonable' list of 15 rules to follow
A bride and groom have been blasted for issuing their wedding guests with an 'unreasonable' list of2024-05-21
atest comment