A fire set in the basement of a southern New Caledonia former boys’ catholic school destroyed a room.
It could have been much worse but quick work by Fr Josélito Molse sm, a Saint Louis’ priest and a parishioner contained the fire until the fire department arrived.
According to reports from New Caledonia, the Saint Louis area has been out of the control of public authorities.
Locals put it down to the “rascals” phenomenon and political uncertainty in view of the 2018 referendum on independence.
In 2013 arsonists targeted the presbytery resulting in significant damage.
Source: Marist Oceania