France begins evacuating tourists stranded amid riots in New Caledonia

The first evacuation flights for French tourists stranded in New Caledonia due to riots in the Pacific territory took off on May 25, said the high commission representing the French state in the archipelago.

The international airport in the capital Noumea has remained closed for more than a week and all commercial flights have been cancelled due to the unrest.

"Measures to send foreigners and French tourists home continue," the high commission said in a statement.

The tourists departed on May 25 from the Magenta airfield in Noumea aboard military aircraft headed for Australia and New Zealand, according to an AFP journalist.

They will then have to take commercial flights to mainland France.

"I came on vacation to visit my best friend... The conflict broke out and I got stuck (in Noumea)," Ms Audrey, who did not give her last name, told AFP.

Australia and New Zealand had begun repatriating their nationals on May 21.