12 Feb 2020

Tropical Cyclone Uesi causes damage in New Caledonia

9:24 am on 12 February 2020

Tropical cyclone Uesi has brought torrential rain to New Caledonia's north as the storm passes to the west of the islands.

Up to 300mm of rain fell in 48 hours, flooding some roads.

On Belep, several people had to leave their homes to shelter at the town hall.

Power has been cut in parts of the north of the main island Grande Terre where a maximum cyclone alert remains in force.

Uesi passed as a category 3 storm about 150km from Belep and is now weakening in the Coral Sea.

A year ago Cyclone Oma struck the same area, causing serious damage to agriculture.