Authorities estimate that more than 35,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in western Canada due to a wave of wildfires that threaten several cities in the west and north of the country.
The severity of the situation in the country, where about 1,052 wildfires are active, prompted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to convene a crisis cabinet for the second time in 48 hours, the Efe news agency emphasizes.
The area most affected by the fires is central British Columbia, with the cities of West Kelowna and Kelowna, with a combined population of 160,000, under threat.
More than 35,000 people have already been forced to flee their homes and another 30,000 have been warned they may be required to do the same at any moment, according to Western British Columbia Premier David Eby.
A large number of displaced people forced the authorities to ban tourism on Saturday in areas hardest hit by the fires to make room in hotels to accommodate people.
Yellowknife has become a virtual ghost town, officials say, as most of its 20,000 residents began to flee following an evacuation order issued Wednesday night.
For several days, long caravans of cars blocked the main highway, and those who could not get on the road stood in line to catch an emergency flight out of the city.
About 2,600 people remain in the city, including ambulance crews, firefighters, utility workers and police officers, as well as some residents who refuse to leave, according to the Associated Press (AP).
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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