20 Jan 2011

New Caledonia cyclone damage estimated at US$11m

4:26 pm on 20 January 2011

The damage caused by Cyclone Vania in New Caledonia last week is estimated to be in excess of 11 million US dollars.

The figure has been compiled by Noumea's daily newspaper which added up the losses to infrastructure and agriculture, making it the territory's most destructive weather event since Cyclone Erica in 2003.

The paper says crops have been badly damaged and losses are estimated to be in the range of two millio US dollars.

The roads over the hills surrounding Noumea have also been badly damaged, with wage costs for extra hours for clearance workers being added to the bill.

The telecommmunications sector is said to use the repairs to try to proof the facilities against future storms.