A massive wildfire has forced the evacuation of 9,000 residents in northeastern Canada, officials said Saturday.
The towns of Labrador City and Wabush in Newfoundland and Labrador province were evacuated due to the raging blaze.
“We are seeing extreme fire behaviour out there. The fire is moving about 50 meters per minute,” said provincial fire duty officer, Jeff Motty. Residents described the scene as “shocking” with enormous clouds of smoke obscuring the sky. The fire has made it impossible for water bombers to be used.
The evacuation comes as Canada enters its peak wildfire season, with 575 active fires burning across the country, over 400 of which are out of control. Last year, Canada recorded its worst fire season in history, with drier and hotter conditions caused by climate change increasing the risk of major fires.
The rapid spread of the fire has led to long lines of cars waiting to fill up at gas stations, with residents forced to evacuate over 500 kilometres east via the only road available. Authorities have warned of the devastating effects of wildfires, including loss of life, property damage, and long-term ecological changes.
