20 Feb 2019

Cyclone Oma moves away from New Caledonia, alerts lifted

12:13 pm on 20 February 2019

The level two alert has been lowered for people in New Caledonia's north as Cyclone Oma moves away from the territory.

The tracking map for Cyclone Oma at 7am February 20, 2019

The tracking map for Cyclone Oma at 7am February 20, 2019 Photo: Météo et climat

The category three cyclone is about 250 kilometres away from the northern town of Koumac and is moving south west at 10 kilometres an hour.

Flooding has made some roads impassable in the archipelago's North Province and the storm has cut electricity to thousands of people and injured one person.

Earlier, politician Philippe Gomès said the cyclone had also "dealt a rough blow" to agriculture and that food crops in the north were either "destroyed or severely damaged".

Civil defence authorities lifted the alert at 6.30am local time and the affected areas are now in "safeguard" mode.

The pre-alert for the remainder of the territory has also been lifted.

People are still being warned about high winds and heavy rain and to avoid coastal areas particularly at high tide.

Damage caused by Cyclone Oma in New Caledonia

Damage caused by Cyclone Oma in New Caledonia Photo: Facebook/ Gendarmerie de Nouvelle-Calédonie

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