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:
Related suggestion:
Saweetie and YG Marley look cozy as they put on a lovedWhat key recent events led to Iran's assault on Israel?SE China's Quanzhou drives highChina, Micronesia to elevate tiesXi, Lula congratulate seminar on exchangesChina surpasses U.S. in publishing most influential academic papers: reportBiden to host Iraqi leader as Mideast tensions soar, raising more questions about US troop presenceStudy reveals genetic mechanism behind Tibetans' highChina sees fruitful outcomes in international space cooperationIn pics: Chengdu Science Museum gets illuminated to greet 2023 WorldCon
2.5326s , 5259.96875 kb
Copyright © 2024 Powered by Australia, New Zealand send planes to evacuate nationals from New Caledonia ,Planet Profile news portal