Brit tourists are evacuated from Pacific holiday island of New Caledonia as French-run territory erupts in deadly riots and looting

British tourists are being urgently evacuated from the Pacific holiday island of New Caledonia as the French-run territory has erupted in deadly riots and looting.

Over a week of riots has left six people dead and hundreds more injured, as cars, shops, and buildings are set ablaze and destroyed.

With some 3,200 tourists trapped in the territory - British nationals are being supported by the UK government as it works on a coordinated response.

The UK has joined forces with New Zealand and Australia in their efforts to rescue their citizens from the paradise-turned-hellhole.

A small number of Brits yesterday boarded flights organised by New Zealand and Australia to leave their territory.

Tourists are being urgently evacuated from New Caledonia as deadly rioting and looting takes over the French-run territory. Pictured: Members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, along with other military personnel, preparing to assist people being evacuated on May 21

A masked bystander poses in front of burnt vehicles in a roadblock at the entrance to Ducos, France's Pacific territory of New Caledonia, on May 21, 2024

French forces smashed through around 60 road blocks to clear the way from conflict-stricken New Caledonia's capital to the airport but have still not reopened the route

The Pacific territory of 270,000 people has been in turmoil since May 13, when violence erupted over French plans to impose new voting rules that would give tens of thousands of non-indigenous residents voting rights

France deployed troops to New Caledonia's ports and international airport, and imposed a state of emergency on May 16 after three nights of clashes that left four dead and hundreds wounded

The Brits who remain in New Caledonia have been advised by the UK government to register their presence and follow the Foreign Office's travel advice for further updates.

Images from the island show charred vehicles, burnt to a crisp in the middle of roads with some stacked on top of each other to form makeshift roadblocks.

Fire and smoke can be seen billowing skywards from piles of vehicles set alight as French forces were forced to smash through 60 roadblocks to clear the way from conflict-stricken New Caledonia's capital, Ducos, to the airport.

Rebels can be seen with their faces wrapped in scarves as they continue looting shops and destroying the once-peaceful island.

As well as witnessing fires and looting, holidaymakers who have been stuck for more than a week have reported food shortages.

'The situation in New Caledonia remains dynamic, and New Zealand officials are continuing to work with French counterparts and other partners especially Australia to understand what is needed to ensure the safety of our people there,' New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said.

French President Emmanuel Macron is flying to the Pacific territory on Wednesday following the arrival of French police who arrived on the island last week.

Louis Le Franc, the French High Commissioner, said officers had been deployed to 'regain control of all the areas that we have lost'.

A street blocked by debris and burnt out items is seen following overnight unrest in France's Pacific territory of New Caledonia, on May 18, 2024

The unrest has left six people dead, including two police, and hundreds injured

A Kanak flag waving next to a burning vehicle at a roadblock in New Caledonia on May 19, 2024

Charred vehicles are stacked on top of each other to form roadblocks across the territory

The unrest is the deadliest seen in the French pacific territory since the 1980s as Paris last week declared a state of emergency on the island.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said 1,000 extra police were joining the 1,700 personnel already there. He added that authorities would push for 'the harshest penalties for rioters and looters'.

Six people have already had their lives claimed as a result of the protests which erupted nine days ago after lawmakers in Paris voted through changes that will allow more French residents to vote in local elections.

Read More

New Caledonia: Desperate Aussies will finally be evacuated from troubled Pacific island after deadly riots

This was a move that leaders among the territory's indigenous Kanak people said will dilute the political influence of natives.

Macron will meet with elected officials and local representatives tomorrow for political talks and the discussion around the reconstruction of the island, aides said.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said Macron 'will discuss with all the forces in New Caledonia', claiming the objective of talks was to 'prepare and anticipate reconstruction'.

He added: 'The president is also going to re-establish dialogue'.

One French family stranded in New Caledonia told The Guardian they would unfortunately be packing up their boat and heading for Brisbane, Australia, in coming days.

Dad-of-three Xavier Decramer and his wife Maeva Zebrowski, are preparing for around six days of sailing as they make a desperate attempt to flee the violence-stricken island.

People look for groceries and food among nearly empty shelves in a supermarket in New Caledonia, on May 18, 2024

A man stands in front a burnt car after unrest in Noumea, New Caledonia, on May 15, 2024. Last week France imposed a state of emergency in the French Pacific territory

People wait in line to buy provisions from a supermarket along a street blocked by debris and burnt out items following overnight unrest

A truck burnt by rioters in order to block access to an expressway is seen on a road in Noumea

'Bearing in mind my wife was born here, we wanted to settle here.

'It's difficult. We're really torn between the need to put our family in safety … and the feeling that we are leaving people behind here – people who cannot leave,' he said.

Travel advice from the Australian government has warned people not to try and get to the airport themselves saying the route 'is not yet considered safe'.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described the unfolding situation as 'deeply concerning'.

The Noumea international airport remains closed for commercial flights, and a decision on when to reopen it will be reassessed on Thursday, the local government has said.

Read More

New Caledonia: Aussies caught in violent riots on Pacific island neighbour claim they've been 'abandoned' by the government

Schools and businesses have also been burned down, with supplies and necessities reaching concerning low levels for the 3,200 tourists and 270,000 residents.

The New Caledonia government explained: 'The problem is not so much a lack of staff, medical and food supplies but more importantly one of access.'

On Tuesday night, two Royal Australian Air Force planes flew 108 Australians and other tourists from New Caledonia to Brisbane, while the New Zealand military flew 48 people to Auckland.

France revealed it expects to evacuate around 500 people via military aircraft from Wednesday.

Viro Xulue, a member of a community group currently helping Kanak people, said the current unrest was similar to the civil war in the 1980s.

He said: 'We are really scared about the police, the French soldiers, and we are scared about the anti-Kanak militia terrorist group.

'The French government doesn't know how to control people here.

'They send more than 2,000 military to control, but it's a fail.'