Australia, New Zealand send planes to evacuate nationals from New Caledonia
Time:2024-05-21 21:10:31 Source:opinionsViews(143)
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.
Previous:Culture festival showcases integration
Next:Target to lower prices on basic goods in response to inflation
You may also like
- Shooting injures 2 at Missouri high school graduation ceremony
- People visit exhibitions at Times Art Museum in Beijing
- Xi to Attend SCO Summit via Video Link
- China accelerates issuance of local
- Flight attendant reveals why plane passengers should NEVER fall asleep before take off
- Key projects under construction in Heilongjiang, NE China
- CPC Leadership Reviews Guidelines on Policies Supporting Construction of Xiong'an
- People visit exhibitions at Times Art Museum in Beijing
- Sale continues dominant run as Braves beat Padres 3