Several communities have been completely evacuated in Canada, particularly in the Northwest Territories.
Forest fires are raging out of control and at high speed across large areas of Canada. So far, more than 168,000 people have been evacuated and five people have lost their lives, including a 9-year-old boy, writes CNN.
– Leave the city while you can, said the mayor of the town of Hay River, in the northwest of the province of Yellowknife, Kandis Jameson on Wednesday.
Tourists defy the call – local races
Fear for life
Lisa Mundy, a mother of two from the town of Hay River, believes she, her husband and children were among the last to drive out of town.
– We saw nothing in front of us. We went through embers, adds Mundy Radio-Canada.
CLOSED: This photo was taken from the main road into Hay River, just before it closed. Photo: Morgan Monkman / Reuters / NTB
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It was on Sunday at 3 p.m. that Hay River residents received an evacuation order. But just hours after the message arrived, authorities had to close the main road out of town due to a forest fire, and people were told to go to the airport to be evacuated by plane.
The couple and their children feared for their lives as they traveled on the road, just before it closed.
– I was afraid the tires would explode and the car would catch fire. The window of the storefront is cracked, says the mother of two Radio-Canada.
– The worst in history
The family of four said they could see the car starting to melt around them and slowly but surely filling with smoke.
– My six-year-old son repeatedly said: “Mom, I don’t want to die.” The car trip was traumatic for everyone, Mundy said.
– It was completely crazy. I just started crying when I got out of the car.
CITIES THREATENED: Entire cities have been or are at risk of being completely wiped out by wildfires in Canada. Photo: Handout / AFP / NTB
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Local firefighters say this year’s wildfire season is the worst in history. So far, twice as much area has been burned as last year. Forecasts indicate that the fires will continue in the coming months.
Canada joins a long list of countries that have struggled with massive wildfires this summer.
Wildfires have also affected many countries in Europe this year, including Norway. Meanwhile, the US island of Maui is now facing the deadliest wildfire in the country’s history, with 110 deaths from the wildfire, according to figures from the authorities.
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