RIAU24.COM – More than 13,000 people were forced to flee their homes in Western Canada on Friday May 5 after a week of hot weather, exceeding the seasonal average of 10 degrees Celsius, which has since fueled wildfires.

On the other hand, rapid snowmelt triggered flooding in the British Columbia interior.

Authorities said about 13,000 residents were under evacuation orders in Canada's Alberta province, the region hardest hit by the wildfires.

On Friday, according to reports, the province witnessed nearly 80 active fires, many of which were out of control.

It comes as the country's western and central regions, home to most of Canada's farmland, are experiencing abnormally dry, even severe, drought in some areas, AFP reported citing government data.

In this context, among the most affected areas is the territory of the Little Red River Cree Nation, which includes three communities in the north of the province, including Fox Lake, where a fire destroyed up to 20 homes.

According to Christie Tucker, manager of Alberta Wildfire's information unit, there have been nearly 350 wildfires in Alberta this year, burning more than 25,000 hectares.

“This time, the wildfire activity is much greater than what we have seen in the past,” Tucker said at a news conference, as cited by Reuters.

He added: “It's going to be hotter, it's going to be windier and we're expecting extreme fire behavior. Firefighters were prepared today for a very difficult day.

It comes as the official warned the fires were expected to intensify on Friday.

Floods and fires in British Columbia

While part of Canada faces drought conditions and wildfires, British Columbia on the Pacific coast is facing a disastrous combination of several inland wildfires and rapid snowmelt which caused river levels to rise in the south of the province.

Media reports citing officials said some rivers had overflowed.

“Several days of unusually warm temperatures have led to rapid snowmelt and high river flows across much of the British Columbia interior, with severe flooding underway in some areas,” provincial officials said in a press release cited by the AFP press agency.

It adds: “Severe flooding is possible, and extreme flooding… is possible in areas that receive heavy rain. »

Authorities also fear that heavy rains expected this weekend could worsen the situation.

“The situation is expected to worsen as rain and thunderstorms are expected on Friday May 5 and Saturday May 6, increasing the risk of flooding,” the Ministry of Emergency Management said in a statement cited by Reuters.

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