2023-06-26 00:30:54
It is currently the most polluted city in the world. Acrid smoke covered Sunday Montreal with a veil due to the still active forest fires in Canada. A smog warning issued by Environment Canada is in effect in several regions of Quebec. These fumes could soon reach Europe, and in particular France.
There are so many fine particles that Montreal is the city with the worst air quality in the world on Sunday, according to Iqair, a Swiss company specializing in the study of atmospheric pollutants. New York found itself in the same situation earlier this month. “It’s really like a fog, except that it’s smoke from the forest fires. It’s really hard to breathe, it stings the eyes a little too ”, notes Fauve Lepage Vallée, 18 years old.
#Montréal this morning… We are again immersed in the smoke of the fires of the #Canada, because the wind has changed in the night. The air has become unbreathable! End of the world feeling! What will the next summers be like? Will the sky systematically take on this aspect and… pic.twitter.com/xykIhdhFAX
— Guillaume Séchet (@Meteovilles) June 25, 2023
Because of the smoke, several activities had to be postponed, including the Ironman of Mont-Tremblant, a hundred kilometers north of Montreal, and the mixed relay of the World Triathlon Championship Series in the Old Port of Montreal. Wearing a mask is recommended and outdoor activities are not recommended until Monday. “The Emergency Measures Coordination Committee asks us to close swimming pools, paddling pools and outdoor sports facilities at least until Monday noon,” wrote Luc Rabouin, mayor of the borough of Plateau-Mont-Blanc, on Twitter. Royal in Montreal.
???? Important notice: the Emergency Measures Coordination Committee asks us to close swimming pools, paddling pools and outdoor sports facilities at least until Monday noon.
— Luc Rabouin (@LucRabouin) June 25, 2023
81 forest fires are active in Quebec, 27 of which are considered out of control. Several fires progressed during the weekend, due to dry weather and high temperatures. “The amount of smoke makes it particularly difficult for tankers and helicopters to intervene,” according to the Société de protection des forêts contre le feu du Québec (SOPFEU), which indicates that rain “in significant quantities” is expected. Monday or Tuesday over the northwest of the province.
New French firefighters expected
On Wednesday, 119 French firefighters must arrive in Quebec to relay their compatriots on the ground since the beginning of June. “The mission of the first contingent of French firefighters is coming to an end,” explains Stéphane Caron, prevention and communications coordinator for SOPFEU. “They are leaving for France on June 28 and a second contingent will take over the same day. »
Canada is living through an unprecedented year, with more than 7.4 million hectares burned since the beginning of January. Across the country, the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center (CIFFC) lists 470 active fires, including 244 out of control.
#Mask #recommended #activities #canceled #smoke #fires #Montreal #polluted #world