Heavy rains and strong winds have destroyed homes and left at least three people dead — including two children — in New Caledonia.
Eleven people were reported missing on Tuesday after torrential rain triggered landslides. But this number could change because it’s extremely difficult to come by information.
#Houaïlou: les premières images sont impressionnantes (G.Detcheverry NC1ère ). Les secours ont retrouvé un 1er corps nc1ere.nc pic.twitter.com/cM8tfmLTiv
— Nlle Calédonie 1ère (@NC1ere) November 22, 2016
Floods hit hardest around the town of Houailou where rain has been battering since the weekend and two mudslides occurred.
The two mudslides hit Ouakaya and Gouareu, located in mountainous areas.
All roads, electrical supplies and telephone lines to the area had been cut off and poor weather was stopping rescue helicopters from reaching the disaster zones.
Images of the damage show corrugated roofs torn off homes, uprooted trees and riverbanks overflowing on the island territory.
Five homes had been swept away and several children were among the missing. A further five people were injured.
And there is no weather change in view: ‘The chance of weather conditions improving in the coming hours is not good,‘ said the government in a statement.
Low-lying islands in the South Pacific are especially concerned about an increase in extreme weather.
