There are still around 100 desperate Australians “stuck in limbo” in New Caledonia as they try to flee riots that have killed at least six people.
A French plane arrived in Brisbane on Wednesday night carrying 103 Australian citizens and family members after 84 Australians and 24 other citizens were repatriated to the Queensland capital on Tuesday.
A total of 187 Australians and their families have returned from New Caledonia, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said in a post on social media platform X.
There are about 500 Australians in New Caledonia and about 300 in total had registered their interest in returning home with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Pacific Minister Pat Conroy told ABC TV on Wednesday.
Australia will continue to work with the French government on more flights, Conroy said.
Another 103 Australians and their families landed in Brisbane on Wednesday night (pictured) on a French-assisted flight from New Caledonia.
Relieved passengers arrived in Brisbane on Wednesday night, but around 100 Australians remain stranded waiting for a flight home.
“The main plan is more French flights, but as I have indicated publicly, we have contingency plans and we have planes on standby in case there is any problem with that,” he said.
Those aboard the first two flights were relieved after days of being unable to find a way off the island, said Fadi Chemali, who was on the first plane to arrive in Australia.
“Everyone applauded when we landed, we were all very happy,” he told AAP after landing in Brisbane.
Chemali had been on vacation with his wife and daughter for a week before the riots broke out and spent eight days struggling to find his way home.
“I didn’t see any violence up close, but we heard a lot, including gunshots from where we were, it’s been pretty intense.”
At least six people have died in the territory and hundreds have been injured since violence broke out last Monday.
Rob Slade (pictured left) greets his partner Vicki Murray (right) after arriving from New Caledonia.
Australian tourists Monique (left), Juliett (center) and Pascal Urban (right) arrive from New Caledonia.
French troops are trying to stop further unrest, with buildings razed, shops looted and roads blocked.
Australia’s Consul General in New Caledonia, Annelise Young, posted on X that her team had been working around the clock with officials in Canberra and Paris and working closely with French authorities to ensure the safe passage of Australian tourists.
New rules changing who can participate in the nation’s elections have been criticized by indigenous Kanaks, who fear their vote will be diluted by thousands of French citizens who have moved to the island.
Some 270 rioters have been arrested and a 12-hour curfew has been imposed, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
France has sent more than 1,000 security personnel and hundreds more will join in to help quell the unrest.
The reopening of the international airport to commercial flights will be re-evaluated on Thursday.
Australia has urged people to reconsider travel to New Caledonia.
Those there have been advised to limit their movement.
