The exceptional rains affecting New Caledonia have led to a new drama.

A couple in their 70s drowned on Sunday afternoon after their car was swept away by the floods, firefighters said.

The facts occurred at the level of a raft in Païta, on the outskirts of Nouméa, after violent storms.

"The lady called the gendarmerie to warn that their car had been swept away, then we got in touch with her, but she could not find her exact location," said Damien Chapuis, firefighter in Païta.

Exceptional rains

The victim had however indicated that they were leaving a known restaurant in the area, which enabled the emergency services to identify the location of the slab.

The vehicle was located below as the water level dropped, but its two occupants were found drowned in the passenger compartment.

"The water must have risen very suddenly, perhaps after a plug of water came down from the [mountain] range", also indicated Damien Chapuis.

He renewed the instructions for caution as New Caledonia is affected by exceptional rainfall, due to the La Niña climatic phenomenon (abnormally low temperature of equatorial waters).

In December, in Voh (north), a 3-year-old girl died in similar circumstances.

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