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.
Germany's foreign minister visits Kyiv as Ukraine battles to hold off a Russian offensive
China's NCPA to host Festival Waltz concert
Update on Ashlee Good's baby who was stabbed in Westfield Bondi stabbing rampage
GLEN OWEN: The honeytrap MP... and the Godfather
Tamara Ecclestone is criticised as her daughter Fifi, 10, heads out wearing heavy make
Inside the China Online Audiovisual Annual Gala
People across China enjoy festive events to celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year
Spring Festival TV gala audience, viewership hit record highs
Macron is making a surprise trip to New Caledonia amid deadly unrest and indigenous frustration
Event celebrating upcoming Chinese New Year held in China's Hong Kong