Nearly 360 fires continue to rage in Canada where 40,000 people across the country have had to be evacuated due to these fires which affect all provinces. After the West and Alberta, then Nova Scotia, in the East, it is Quebec’s turn to be affected by 140 fires. Several threaten localities and the inhabitants have therefore left their residences.
With our correspondent in Quebec, Pascale Guericolas
” In front of me is the sun which is orange with the plume of smoke from fire number 215 », observes Jean-Claude Therrien-Pinette, theone of the leaders of the indigenous community of Mani-Utenam, where the 1,500 residents had to leave quickly.
The fire referred to by this man, who coordinated the evacuation of the Innu community of Mani-Utenam, is a fire 115 km wide. It is located about twelve kilometers from the village. Very mobilized during the pandemic, his team has resumed service to help local residents find a temporary roof elsewhere.
” We have social services, we have a 24-hour line to listen to people who are experiencing anxiety. We also currently have a reception service and then receiving calls from members of the community who have needs. “, explains Jean-Claude Therrien-Pinette.
10,000 people evacuated around Sept-Îles
In Quebec, the fire which forced more than 10,000 people to evacuate the region around Sept-Îles, in the north of the province near the St. Lawrence River, did not evolve overnight from Friday to Saturday but still remains ” out of control “, said the authorities. More than 140 forest fires, of which about 80 forest fires are deemed out of control, remain active in Quebec.
500 firefighters are currently fighting these fires which are raging across Canada. The Canadian Minister of Health, Jean-Yves Duclos, does not hide his concern about this exceptional situation. ” It’s critical, it’s serious, we have been dealing with forest fires of an unprecedented scale for several weeks. Nearly 30,000 square kilometers have burned so far, which is 10 times more than the average in each of the last ten years. he says. 700 firefighters from South Africa, Australia, the United States and New Zealand are to come to Canada to help in the coming days.
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