VIDEO: Thousands Evacuated Due to Forest Fires in Canada

Evacuations have been ordered for residents in western Canada due to forest fires. Authorities have reported more than 100 active fire fronts. This was reported by France 24.

In Alberta province, around 30,000 people have been instructed to leave their homes. More than twenty fires in the province remain out of control. The Premier of Alberta has described the situation as "unprecedented," and a state of emergency has been declared in the province since May 6.

Alberta is one of the largest oil-producing provinces in the world. The rapid onset and spread of forest fires have been exacerbated by hot and dry weather. The local fire service has reported that light rains in the south of the province on Sunday allowed firefighters to access some previously unreachable areas, but the situation in the north remains very challenging.

In Fox Lake, Alberta, 20 homes, 1 store, and the police station have been destroyed by fire. Some residents have been evacuated by boat and helicopter.

In neighboring British Columbia, residents have also been forced to leave their homes due to two uncontrolled forest fires. Authorities have warned that strong winds are expected in the coming days, which could further ignite the flames.

In recent years, extreme weather conditions have frequently been observed in western Canada. France 24 recalls that in British Columbia in 2021, more than 500 people died due to high temperatures, and forest fires destroyed an entire town. This was followed by devastating floods and landslides.