WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand maritime officials are warning ships in the south Pacific Ocean to be on the lookout for icebergs.

Officials say they believe hundreds of icebergs have split off Antarctic ice shelves and are drifting north toward New Zealand.

Australian glaciologist Neil Young says the nearest one is about 160 miles southeast of New Zealand's Stewart Island. Young says it's part of a group of icebergs spread over an area of 600 miles by 440 miles.

He says the icebergs aren't necessarily linked to global warming. But Young says the rate of icebergs breaking off the Antarctic ice shelf in recent years may have increased with rising temperatures on the continent over the past 60 years.

There are no major shipping lanes or substantial fishing grounds in the area.

%@AP Links