Acrid smoke shrouded Montreal on Sunday from the still-burning wildfires in Canada, making the city the world’s most air polluted, according to a specialized company. A smog warning issued by Environment Canada is in effect for several regions of Quebec.
There are so many fine particles that Montreal is this Sunday the city with the worst air quality in the world, according to Iqair, a Swiss company specializing in the study of air pollutants.
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 Triathlon World Championship Series in the Old Port of Montreal.
Hundreds of fires across the country
The use of a mask is recommended and outdoor activities are not recommended until Monday. “The Committee for the Coordination of Emergency Measures asks us to close swimming pools, children’s pools and outdoor sports facilities at least until noon on Monday,” said Luc Rabouin, mayor of the Plateau-Mont-Royal district of Montreal. .
81 wildfires are active in Quebec, 27 of which are considered out of control. Several fires advanced over the weekend, due to dry weather and high temperatures.
“The importance of the smoke makes it especially difficult for tanker planes and helicopters to intervene,” according to the Société de protection des forêts contre le feu du Québec (SOPFEU), which indicates that rains are expected “in significant quantities” for Monday or Tuesday. over the northwest of the province.
Nationwide, the Canadian Interagency Wildland Fire Center (CIFFC) lists 470 active fires, including 244 out of control. Canada lives an unprecedented year, with more than 7.4 million hectares burned since the beginning of January.
Source: BFM TV
