New Caledonia is struggling to recover from the unrest that has erupted in recent days. The first clashes with the police began on Monday 13 May during a pro-independence demonstration against a constitutional reform currently being examined by the National Assembly

This Tuesday 14 May, Nouméa, the capital of this French territory in the Pacific, is still showing the after-effects of the violence that occurred the previous day and during the night.

According to Louis Le Franc, the French High Commissioner in New Caledonia, exchanges of fire with large-calibre weapons, in particular hunting rifles, took place during the riots in the commune of Le Mont-Dore, near Nouméa. Tension remains high, leading to the imposition of a curfew for at least one day from 6pm local time (9am Paris time). Nouméa airport has also been closed.

Although no deaths were reported, house fires were recorded, mainly in the northern districts of Nouméa, with the destruction of shops, pharmacies and homes, as Louis Le Franc reported at a press conference. Businesses were also affected, with two Système U shops in particular suffering considerable damage, according to BFMTV.

The fire brigade was very busy, registering almost 1,500 calls and fighting around 200 fires. Hundreds of cars and more than thirty businesses, shops and factories were engulfed in flames, according to employers’ representatives.

Although the situation seemed to calm down on Tuesday morning, clashes and acts of vandalism persisted in the streets, particularly in the suburbs of Nouméa, where a supermarket, targeted by a ram car attack, was still being looted. Numerous other businesses have also been targeted by break-ins, reflecting the climate of instability that reigns in the region.