Canada’s Manitoba Faces Largest Wildfire Evacuation in History
Over 17,000 residents are being evacuated from the province of Manitoba in Canada as the wildfires rage on and the government issued a state of emergency and mobilized the military for support.
“This is the largest evacuation we’ve ever seen in our province due to wildfires,” Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said during a press briefing on Wednesday. The declaration of emergency allows authorities to coordinate evacuations and provide shelter more effectively, according to reports from AFP, AP, and Reuters.
Military Support Activated
The Canadian Forces have been sent to assist in evacuations, with Prime Minister Mark Carney giving the go-ahead for the deployment. Military aircraft are being sent “without delay” to air-lift residents from remote northern communities at risk, Kinew announced. Other resources are also being used to help contain fires.
Several Areas at Risk
The evacuations also include Flin Flon’s mining community, where 5,000 residents were already told they are to be evacuated at short notice. Other remote towns and Aboriginal communities were put under order to evacuate.
Most evacuees will be taken to Winnipeg, which is the provincial capital.
