An eleven-year-old boy has died of a heart attack on Lifou after the New Caledonian island was battered by cyclonic winds and a powerful earthquake last night.
Tropical Cyclone Vania is heading south between the Loyalty Islands and the main island.
A spokesperson for the French High Commission Michele Lajus says the boy was dead on arrival at hospital after the double blow of a tsunami warning and a red cyclone alert.
"He was with his family, not in a rush, not in a hurry. It's probably regarding the (earthquake), you know, maybe he was afraid of it, we don't know but that's something we are really complaining about."
Michele Lajus says the lower quarter of the main island including the capital Noumea is now on red alert along with Mare and the Isle of Pines.
She says the army and police have helped evacuate 500 squatters to shelter in schools and gymnasiums, the airport is closed and people have been forced indoors as the storm intensified unexpectedly.
She says the airport has been closed.
