An official territory-wide cyclone pre-alert is in force in New Caledonia.
The president convened the crisis unit on Friday morning and it has been decided to issue the pre-alert.
A tropical depression is still hundreds of kilometres north of Belep but moving in a south-southeasterly direction.
The warning advises the public to restrict their movement and not to go to sea.
It also calls on patients with ongoing needs to make sure they contact their doctors and pharmacies to ensure care.
In December 2012, New Caledonia was hit by destructive rain fall when the aftermath of Cyclone Freda crossed the territory's north after it had hit Solomon Islands.
