In the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, several wildfires have escalated and thousands of people have been displaced.
Northwest of the provincial capital Halifax, an area of 788 hectares is on fire, authorities announced late Monday evening (local time). That corresponds to about 1100 football fields. About 16,400 people had to leave their homes, the city of Halifax said. Emergency services estimate that some 200 buildings have been damaged. There are no reports of injuries or missing persons.
According to the authorities, an area of more than 6,000 hectares is also on fire in the southwest of the province. The fire is also out of control. Some buildings were destroyed and damaged – an exact number is not yet known. “The wildfire situation in Nova Scotia is incredibly serious,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on Twitter Monday. He expressed his support for those affected and helpers. “We stand ready to provide whatever government support and assistance is needed.”
Forest fires have also been fought in western Canada for weeks. More than 546 fires have destroyed more than one million hectares of land in the province of Alberta this year, according to authorities. This roughly corresponds to the area of the cantons of Bern and Valais combined. According to authorities, more than half of the fires were caused by humans, with 59 fires caused by lightning strikes.
With climate change in mind, experts warn that the frequency and intensity of wildfires will increase. In western Canada’s prairie provinces, average temperatures have increased by 1.9 degrees Celsius since the mid-20th century, according to the Canada Agency for Environment and Climate Change. (sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
