Smoke From Wildfires Triggers Alert In Vancouver
Umer Jamshaid Published August 22, 2018 | 03:34 AM
Ottawa, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Aug, 2018 ) :Thick smoke blanketed Vancouver on Tuesday, triggering warnings about dangerous particulate matter in the air and comparisons with cities in China and India ranked by the WTO as the worst polluted.
It blew in more than a week ago from hundreds of wildfires burning across Canada's westernmost province of British Columbia as well as US states to the south, and according to officials was expected to linger for several more days -- marking the longest air quality alert in the picturesque coastal city's history.
"It's very, very hazy outside," Vancouver air quality official Francis Ries told AFP. "We used to see the mountains (on the city's north shore), but now we can't see them at all." Readings of fine particulate matter reached levels that are higher than Beijing and more than twice what is considered safe for health.
Exposure to the air pollution is particularly a concern for infants, the elderly and persons with diabetes, and lung or heart disease, the government warned.
There are currently 563 wildfires burning in British Columbia, which last week declared a province-wide state of emergency and brought in 300 soldiers to help nearly 3,400 firefighters, including from Australia, Mexico and New Zealand, battle the flames.
It was only the second time in more than a decade that the emergency measure has been used, after a record fire season last year that blackened vast tracts of forest and prompted record numbers of residents to evacuate.
Officials pointed to hot and dry weather fueling the fires across the province.
At one point, the smoke stretched eastward more than 2,300 kilometers (1,400 miles), briefly blocking the sun above Winnipeg, Manitoba.
"We are concerned that this may well be the new normal," commented British Columbia Premier John Horgan while touring his province's north with Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Bugti assures transporters for addressing their problems
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar meets foreign min ..
3 drug peddlers arrested, hashish recovered
1496,990 children given polio drops in five days: DC
Six terrorists killed, hideout busted in N Waziristan IBO: ISPR
Pakistan, Qatar agree to further expand trade, investment ties
Sindh cabinet approves Rs177.5m to strengthen, mobilize various wings of police
Faisal Karim Kundi takes oath as new KP Governor
Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Chaudhry seeks more vibrant ..
Tahaffuz Manzil Foster Home providing care & support to homeless children
PCB proposes April 7 -May 20 window; tweaks in rules for HBL PSL 2025
Field hospitals now operational across Punjab: Azma Bukhari
More Stories From World
-
Football: French Ligue 1 results - collated
7 hours ago -
Football: Italian Serie A results - collated
7 hours ago -
European Champions Cup semi-final result
7 hours ago -
Football: Italian Serie A table
7 hours ago -
Tennis: WTA Madrid Open results
7 hours ago -
Formula One: Miami Grand Prix sprint race results
7 hours ago
-
Barca have 'huge amount' to change next season: coach Xavi
7 hours ago -
Haaland 'back to business' with four-goal haul in Man City rout of Wolves
7 hours ago -
Newcomer Bellingham Madrid's driving force in La Liga conquest
8 hours ago -
Girona players have made history, says coach after reaching Champions League
8 hours ago -
Reus begins farewell tour while Bayern stumble in Stuttgart
8 hours ago -
Real Madrid La Liga title win in numbers
8 hours ago