Seismologists recorded an earthquake of magnitude 5.1 near the Loyalty Islands, which are part of New Caledonia (an overseas territory of France) in the Pacific Ocean. The tremor occurred at 15:01 Coordinated Universal Time (18:01 Moscow Time), at a depth of 10 kilometers.
Additionally, a tremor of magnitude 6.4 was recorded on February 11 off the coast of New Caledonia. New Caledonia is one of the territories belonging to the European country of France, with its capital being Nouméa. It was historically a settlement for both the British and the French in the 19th century, particularly in the first half. The total area of New Caledonia is estimated to be around 19,000 square kilometers, with water covering approximately 500 square kilometers of that area.
The population of New Caledonia is estimated to be around 220,000, based on figures from July 2006. The inhabitants of New Caledonia belong to various ethnic groups.
Agriculturally, the area suitable for farming is very limited; however, many crops can be cultivated in New Caledonia, including leeks, onions, radishes, and others.
