2023-05-07 08:52:04
It’s a “unprecedented situation” the Canadian province of Alberta is experiencing, according to the province’s premier, Danielle Smith. Located in the west of the country, the province declared a state of emergency on Saturday May 6 after 110 forest fires broke out there and drove some 25,000 residents from their homes.
Authorities have asked thousands more to be ready to leave at any time. Fanned by strong winds, a third of the fires are out of control. A provincial state of emergency has therefore been declared. “to safeguard the safety, health and well-being of Albertans”said M.me Smith at a press conference.
At this time, about 122,000 hectares have burned, she said, and 20 localities have been evacuated.
This Canadian province, one of the largest oil producers in the world, “had a hot, dry spring, and with so many kindlings it only takes a few sparks to start some really scary fires”, had explained earlier the Prime Minister. All these factors together “resulted in the unprecedented situation our province faces today”.
More and more frequent “extreme situations”
The state of emergency gives the provincial government “increased powers to respond to extreme situations”also explained Mr.me Smith, including the mobilization of additional resources and the release of emergency funds.
Drayton Valley, an Alberta town of 7,000 about 140 kilometers west of Edmonton, is among the evacuated communities.
In Fox Lake, in the north of the province, a violent fire ravaged twenty houses, a store and a police station. Residents were evacuated by boat and helicopter.
Alberta – in the midst of an election – and a large area of the neighboring province of Saskatchewan, as well as a large part of the Northwest Territories are currently facing an extreme risk of fires, according to a federal government map.
Canada, hit hard by global warming and climate change, is experiencing more frequent extreme weather events. Exactly a month ago, the east of the country was hit by an ice storm, causing the death of three people and extensive material damage.
In September 2022, the country was affected by the passage of post-tropical storm Fiona, which caused the submersion of the coasts of the Atlantic provinces, and in the summer of 2021, it had experienced record temperatures, with more than 47°C recorded in Vancouver, followed by devastating fires, then, a few months later, by extreme floods in southern British Columbia.
In May 2016, Alberta was also affected by a very large forest fire near the city of Fort McMurray, where nearly 100,000 people were evacuated and more than 100,000 hectares devastated.
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