In western Canada, the situation is worsening due to devastating forest fires. 35,000 people had to leave their homes, another 30,000 could follow.
In the province of British Columbia, two fires have now spread to a blaze of more than 41,000 hectares, authorities said. The region around Shuswap Lake in the south of the province is affected. Destroyed homes and burned cars in the town of Scotch Creek were shown on Canadian television. There was no official information about the damage.
Orders were in place across the province for around 35,000 people to be brought to safety, according to the province’s premier, David Eby. An evacuation warning was issued for around 30,000 other people. Tourist trips to affected areas are now banned, he added. Accommodation should remain free for emergency services and evacuees. “The situation is changing very quickly with the drought and the winds,” warned Eby.
