Ottawa (ANTARA) – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held an emergency meeting Thursday (8/17) to discuss the Northwest Territories wildfire crisis.
Mass evacuations from the region are still underway, including in the capital Yellowknife, the region’s largest settlement with a population of over 20,000. Residents have been ordered to vacate the area no later than Friday afternoon local time.
On its website, the territorial government said Thursday that only residents who could not evacuate by car were asked to register for an evacuation by plane.
Residents with health issues and more at risk of adverse conditions are urged to register for air evacuation to avoid deteriorating air quality.
The Canadian Defense Forces said Thursday they are in Yellowknife and working hard to provide support and help protect communities from wildfires.
The regional government on Tuesday (15/8) announced a state of emergency. Then, on Wednesday (8/16), the local government issued an evacuation order in response to an out-of-control forest fire.
Local media reported that wildfires could reach the outskirts of Yellowknife by the end of the week.
According to Canada’s Interagency Wildfire Center, as of Thursday there were about 1,000 active wildfires in Canada, with 236 burning in the Northwest Territories.
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