Quebec affected in turn and forced to evacuate 11,000 people

The fires continue to spread rapidly across Canada. Quebec is plagued by more than a hundred fires which forced it to order, Friday, June 2, the evacuation of more than 11,000 inhabitants. “It’s a scary time for many people from coast to coast”said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The country is facing one of the most catastrophic springs with almost all provinces affected by gigantic fires. After the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan in early May, it is the turn of the east, with Nova Scotia and Quebec, to be affected by huge fires. Tens of thousands of people have been forced to evacuate in recent weeks.

More than 2.7 million hectares burned

In total, more than 2.7 million hectares have already burned in 2023 in the country, eight times more than the average of the last three decades, according to Canadian authorities. And there are currently 214 active fires including 93 out of control across the country.

In Quebec, the authorities had asked the population not to go to the forest in order to limit the risk of accidental fires, most of which are of human origin (cigarette butt or campfire badly extinguished). But that was not enough and the province was faced with numerous fire starts in a few hours, especially in regions near the St. Lawrence River.

At the end of Friday afternoon, the province therefore called on the Canadian army, in particular for assistance in the transport of emergency equipment, foodstuffs and fuel. Hundreds of firefighters from the United States, Mexico, South Africa and Portugal were called in to help. Authorities are hoping the rain and cooler weather forecast for the weekend will bring relief.