Pacific

Asbestos problem delays Wallis school start

12:48 pm on 12 February 2019

Parents of school children in the main town of the French Pacific island of Wallis have delayed the start of the school year for safety reasons.

Photo: 123rf

The public broadcaster said during the break the school was to be repainted after it had been established that there was asbestos.

The parents' association said a company from New Caledonia was tasked with the remedial work but the job has not been completed.

It said the school start had been tentatively put off until next Monday.

The area is being hit by stormy weather, with all schools on neighbouring Futuna delaying the start of the year until Thursday.

Poor conditions have forced air services between the islands to be suspended.