Alberta wildfire claims first victims State of emergency is declared 1,600 buildings destroyed by flames A massive wildfire in Alberta, Canada
- Alberta wildfire claims first victims
- State of emergency is declared
- 1,600 buildings destroyed by flames
A massive wildfire in Alberta, Canada which has forced the evacuation of all 88,000 people from Fort McMurray has been blame for its first deaths.
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At least two people are said to have been killed in a highway accident in the scramble to safety.
Stunning time-lapse footage captures rapidly-spreading wildfire in Fort McMurray #FortMacFire #ymmfire #ymmhelps https://t.co/lmokbjmDYS
— Global Calgary (@GlobalCalgary) May 4, 2016
The evacuation is the largest in Alberta’s history and the province has declared a state of emergency. The blaze broke out south-west of the city on Sunday.
Firefighters appeared to have a measure of control by Tuesday until a drastic wind shift overwhelmed them.
The officials in Alberta province say the fire has gutted some 1,600 structures amid unusually hot and dry weather,
Very Sad – #Wildfire rages in #FortMcMurray as evacuees settle in Edmontonhttps://t.co/CLq5Hn7c7Q #FortMacFire #PrayForFortMcMurray
— Noomii.com (@noomii) May 4, 2016
Fort McMurray is a major centre of Canada’s oil sands industry – with vast oil reserves.
Help from the army and air force is being sent to the region but they may take two days to arrive.In the meantime the blaze which is now covering 7,500 hectares or 46 square kilometres is being tackled by 100 firefighters.
Wildfire in Fort McMurray https://t.co/2UTFj6fjqY #NASA pic.twitter.com/1h3YL60tWU
— NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) May 4, 2016
Justin Trudeau called the Fort McMurray fire “absolutely devastating” https://t.co/0pR114OFS6 #ymmfire #FortMcMurray pic.twitter.com/e4YKKqfW1d
— BuzzFeed Canada (@BuzzFeedCanada) May 4, 2016