Acrid smoke covered Sunday Montreal with a veil due to the still active forest fires in Canada, making the city the most polluted air in the world, according to a specialized company.
A smog warning issued by Environment Canada is in effect in several regions of Quebec.
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.
“It’s really like a fog, except that it’s smoke because of the forest fires. It’s really hard to breathe, it stings the eyes a little too”, notes Fauve Lepage Vallée, 18 years old. . With her friend, she observes the smoky downtown from Parc Jean-Drapeau, located opposite.
Concerts were to take place there on Sunday afternoon. “We were supposed to go to the Piknic Electronik festival, but it was canceled,” regrets Fauve.
Because of the smoke, several activities had to be postponed, in particular 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 noon Monday,” wrote Luc Rabouin, mayor of the Plateau-Mont-Montréal borough, on Twitter. Royal in Montreal.
A total of 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 importance of the smoke makes the interventions of tanker planes and helicopters particularly difficult”, according to the Society for the Protection of Forests against Fire of Quebec (SOPFEU), which indicates that rain “in significant quantities” is expected. Monday or Tuesday over the northwest of the province.
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.”
As with the first French sent to Quebec, their mission will last 21 days.
“They will also be deployed in Roberval”, 250 kilometers north of Quebec City, according to Mr. Caron.
Across the country, the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center (CIFFC) lists 470 active fires, including 244 out of control.
Canada is living through an unprecedented year, with more than 7.4 million hectares burned since the beginning of January.
26/06/2023 14:29:37 – Montréal (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
