2023-06-07 20:21:22
Quebec, which has become the epicenter of the forest fires that are engulfing much of Canada, expects to have to evacuate thousands more people over the next few hours, the premier of the province said on Wednesday.
In total, more than 11,000 Quebecers have already had to leave their homes, and the French-speaking province is preparing to evacuate 4^0,000 additional people.
After Alberta and Nova Scotia, it is Quebec’s turn to be hit by “never seen” fires: 150 fires are currently active, including a hundred deemed out of control.
And no significant rain is expected until Monday evening.
“With the staff we currently have, we can cover regarding 40 fires at the same time, but there are 150 in operation,” said Quebec Premier François Legault.
“We need to focus on where it’s most urgent,” he continued.
Quebec has deployed hundreds of people on the ground. With international aid, including the hundred firefighters from France who are due to arrive by Friday, the province hopes to increase its workforce to 1,200 people.
Double
The question of equipment and staff will be crucial in the days to come, recognize the authorities.
“The more time goes on, the more challenges there will be on the side of the drivers and mechanics. There is an issue on that side,” pointed out Mr. Legault.
The French-speaking province has recorded 438 fires since the beginning of the year, once morest an average of 200 on the same date over the past ten years.
The situation is also considered exceptional by the authorities in terms of the number of hectares burned at this time of the year.
Canada as a whole is experiencing an unprecedented year: 2,293 forest fires have been recorded and approximately 3.8 million hectares burned, a total well above the average of recent decades.
Health benefits far and wide
The country which, due to its geographical location, is warming faster than the rest of the planet, has been confronted in recent years with extreme weather events whose intensity and frequency have been increased by climate change.
In a few days, the fires have degraded air quality on a large scale: the capital Ottawa, like Toronto, and beyond the border, New York, are caught in a gray haze, dangerous in particular for children and the elderly. In Washington, an acrid odor was felt under a hazy sky despite sunny weather.
This article has been published automatically. Sources: ats / afp
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