12 Mar 2013

New Caledonia dodges a bullet as cyclone veers

7:38 pm on 12 March 2013

New Caledonian authorities have downgraded the maximum alert in the territory's north as Cyclone Sandra veers away.

The storm changed course to the south and has begun to weaken.

Despite heavy rain and strong winds, there are no reports of injuries or damage.

The cyclone is moving south at about 15 kmh, more than 200 kilometres off the territory's west coast.