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
- Weekend Update co-anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che continued their annual tradition of 'making eac2024-05-21
New plant species discovered in SW China
(Xinhua) 09:03, February 20, 2024KUNMING, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese researchers have found a new p2024-05-21China's Mars rover detects irregular wedges beneath red planet
(Xinhua) 11:22, November 25, 2023Photo released on June 11, 2021 by the China National Space Adminis2024-05-212024 New York International Auto Show kicks off
(Ecns.cn) 13:20, March 28, 2024Cars are displayed at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center during th2024-05-21Eleanor Tomlinson puts on a leggy display in sparkly black minidress as she joins co
Eleanor Tomlinson, Stephen Merchant and Jessica Gunning reunited on Monday at a special screening of2024-05-21It's almost April 15. Here's how to reduce stress and get your taxes done
NEW YORK (AP) — For many people, tax season isn’t only about gathering W-2 forms or calling an accou2024-05-21
atest comment