Fires Out Of Control In New Caledonia

ABC - Bushfires in New Caledonia's north-west have destroyed over three thousand hectares of land over the last few days.

Emergency services in the French territory say lack of adequate equipment and difficult access make it impossible to deal with fires in the central mountain chain.

The man in charge of civil security services in the area, Frank Allemande, says with extremely dry conditions, strong winds and ground water reserves running out, the worst may be yet to come.

Because of financial difficulties there are no fire-fighting helicopters available.