Canada currently has several hundred active fires, many of which are out of control. Nearly 4 million hectares have burned, more than 20,000 people have been evacuated. Although the forest fire season has only just begun, more than 2,000 fires have already broken out in the country as a whole.
Smog caused by wildfires in Canada and the US has been linked to the effects of climate change
Climate change is felt more and more
Hundreds of soldiers of the armed forces have gone to the fire-affected areas to help the rescuers, assisting in both food deliveries to residents and rescue operations. Canada also receives aid from foreign countries, including the United States and the European Union.
The fires have affected school activities and outdoor activities.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called this fire season the most destructive in the country’s history.
“Unfortunately, in recent years we have seen an increase in the intensity and impact of extreme weather events on Canadians, as well as the cost to families, provinces and the federal budget. In recent years, we have seen devastating floods. We have seen Hurricane Fiona hit us stronger than the hurricanes we’ve experienced before. And this year we’re experiencing the worst fire season we’ve ever had across the country. So we have to continue to adapt what we’re doing.”
Smog covered US cities
The smoke from the fires has not only spread to Canada, but has also reached the United States, enveloping the eastern part in a corrosive orange haze and a pungent smell of burning, including major cities such as New York and Washington. Air pollution levels there have exceeded those typically found in cities in South Asia and China.
“This morning the smog is not so visible, but in the previous days everything looked like it was shrouded in fog,” said Sandra Strenga, a Latvian living in Washington, in a conversation with Latvijas Radio.
“The eyes started watering, there was a burning sensation in the nose. If we had to go out, we used a face mask. Elderly people and those with respiratory diseases are not recommended to go out at all.”
Air quality is still very poor
About 111 million Americans have been affected by hazardous air quality warnings. The smog has affected flights, schoolwork and outdoor events. New York City Mayor Eric Adams urged residents to stay indoors.
Officials in the city handed out face masks at train stations, bus stations and parks and announced that public schools would switch to distance learning starting today.
“I had intended to wear a mask today, but I forgot to do it. But we stay at home and all the activities for the children are also indoors,” says a New Yorker.
The haze has decreased on Friday, but the air quality remains very poor. Environmental activists are already using the situation in Canada and the United States to highlight the devastating effects of climate change.
The host of the White House, Joe Biden, also pointed out that the fires in Canada are another vivid reminder of the impact of climate change.
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2023-06-09 13:59:33
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