Tsunami waves were observed after a powerful magnitude 7.6 undersea earthquake off the east coast of New Caledonia in the South Pacific.

As the destruction from the Garden Route fires continues to rise, efforts to help the victims piece their lives back together have started in earnest.

Nine people died and more than 1500 were displaced as wildfires engulfed vast areas of the Garden Route over the past week.

Nearly 1 000 people from the Karatara area and around 200 people from Rheenendal have been evacuated as the deadly fires continue to wreak havoc.

Flash floods tore through towns in southwest France, turning waterways into raging torrents that killed at least 10 people, authorities said.

At least five people were killed in flash floods in the southwestern Aude area of France after several months worth of rain fell in just a few hours.

In Tropical Storm Michael's wake lay crushed and flooded buildings, shattered lives and at least two deaths.

The Islamic Relief SA organisation said it was assisting Indonesians who were affected by the earthquake and tsunami that left thousands dead.

The death toll from the earthquake and tsunami on Sulawesi island has passed 2 000 as authorities prepared to end the search for thousands of victims feared buried.

Michael gained new strength over warm tropical waters amid fears it would swiftly intensify into a major hurricane before striking Florida's northeast Gulf Coast

Volunteers from the Gift of the Givers conducted a site inspection of Palu where they saw the destruction caused by the devastating earthquake.

A 35-year-old woman who survived the deadly earthquake in Balaroa, Palu, said her house moved at least 300 metres on that fateful day.

Indonesian authorities say they will stop searching for victims of last month's earthquake on Thursday as the death toll continues to rise and hundreds remain missing.

Ayu Palintin felt her a car shake violently when the 7.5 earthquake hit Palu last Friday.

The Indonesian government appeared to be restricting access to the city for people who were not there as part of relief efforts.

An earthquake that struck off the northern coast of Haiti killed at least 11 people and injured more than a hundred when several buildings collapsed.