Firefighters in New Caledonia are battling 12 bushfires across the territory as a prolonged dry spell continues.
Three helicopters were deployed to help control fires in Teremba, Voh and Pouembout.
Local media reports the fires are mostly due to human intervention, and have been aggravated by strong winds.
New Caledonia's president, Philippe Germain, yesterday issued a territory-wide fire ban, saying there is an extreme risk.
Like much of the Pacific, New Caledonia is predicted to experience well below normal rainfall in coming months as what's expected to be one of the worst El Niño systems in over a decade intensifies.
