Thousands Evacuated as Wildfires Rage in Northeastern Canada
Canadian firefighters said on July 13 that approximately 9,000 people in the northeast of the country have been forced to evacuate due to wildfires.
Local firefighter Jeff Motty was quoted by Agence France-Presse as saying that residents of Labrador City and Wabush in Newfoundland and Labrador provinces were ordered to leave their homes.
“We found severe wildfires in the area. The fire is spreading at a rate of about 50 meters per minute,” Motty said.
Photos circulating on social media show the sky obscured by thick smoke, with long lines of cars waiting for gas at gas stations.
Motty mentioned that due to the intensity of the fires, aircrafts were unable to be deployed to drop water to extinguish them.
Federal authorities stated on July 12 that the weather conditions since the beginning of summer have helped to control wildfires, but the country is now entering the peak wildfire season.
Canada is currently working to extinguish 575 wildfires, with over 400 considered to be out of control. In recent days, several wildfires have erupted, particularly in the western regions of the country that are experiencing heatwaves.
(Source: Central News Agency)