Cyclone alerts were lifted at midday on Thursday April 7 in New Caledonia, where the strong tropical depression Fili caused mainly road disruptions and power cuts, authorities said.
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It is the northern province of Grande-Terre which was mainly affected on Wednesday and Thursday by the phenomenon, which caused winds of up to 130 km / h in gusts and torrential rains. In Ouégoa, a village in the far north, 400 mm fell in less than 48 hours.
Landslides and road cuts
While the archipelago has been subjected for several months to heavy rainfall, under the influence of the La Niña climatic phenomenon, Fili has caused the submersion of many roads as well as landslides, said civil security. On Thursday, the main road around Grande-Terre was cut off at Pouembout and Bourail on the west coast while around 5,000 homes were without electricity. On the island of Lifou, mini-tornadoes also tore off two roofs and damaged a bell tower.
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The depression is now moving towards the southeast, losing slightly in intensity to return to a moderate tropical depression next night when its center will be around 200 km southwest of Nouméa, said Météo-France NC.