Montreal has worst air of any major city as wildfires rage: monitor / Photo: ANDREJ IVANOV - AFP
-
Thitikul leads from history-chasing Ryu at women's British Open
-
England's Stones joins Inter Milan on free transfer
-
Hundreds of migrants flood into Spain's Ceuta exclave from Morocco
-
Renewed Iran war raises US missile supply concerns
-
French minister defends expulsion order against Russian commentator
-
Nobel Peace Prize winner Murad says justice for Yazidis far too slow
-
Milei demands expulsion of foreigners expressing 'hate' against Argentina
-
Mexico escalates war against smelly seaweed on Caribbean beaches
-
UK's highest court to hear Palestine Action's appeal against ban
-
Selection process for next UN chief under way
-
Hundreds of migrants swim to Spain's Ceuta territory from Morocco
-
UEFA says will boycott World Cup if FIFA pushes private investor proposal
-
'Beginning of the end': Relief but no party as French wildfire winds down
-
Volunteers rush to feed scared animals in fire-stricken France
-
UEFA says will boycott World Cup over FIFA proposals
-
Russian missile strike destroys family home, 10 feared dead
-
Rashford says final goodbye to Barcelona ahead of Man Utd return
-
Djokovic to make return at Cincinnati Masters
-
History-chasing Ryu sets pace at women's British Open
-
Selection process for next UN chief begins
-
Italy's Po River valley on drought alert
-
Southern Europe 'becoming more flammable' in hotter climate, experts say
-
France, Spain eye wildfire reprieve as other blazes start up in Europe
-
Prada profits pinched as growth hard to chase
-
Mammoth bones found on parched bed of Danube in Bulgaria
-
Turkey confronts growing wildfires on tourist coasts
-
Atletico complain to FIFA over Barca's Alvarez approach
-
Stocks climb on earnings and rates, oil retreats
-
MEXC Lists Grvt (GRVT) with $60,000 Worth of GRVT and 10,000 USDT in Airdrop+ Rewards
-
Russia blamed for missile that blasted crater in Polish field
-
Musk plans major Republican midterm spending push: report
-
US economic growth slows in second quarter, missing expectations
-
George and Amal Clooney flee French home due to wildfire
-
Russia adds Telegram founder Durov to 'terrorist' blacklist
-
Howe set to leave Newcastle, with Al-Ahli's Jaissle to take over: reports
-
MEXC Ventures Supports Alpha Arena's APAC Debut at Coinfest Bali
-
Ugandan opposition leader in intensive care: wife
-
Grealish hits back over Man City tour snub claims
-
France firefighters hopeful, as Spain ends national emergency
-
Firefighters battle to contain deadly Crete blaze in Greece
-
Stocks diverge on earnings, as oil steadies
-
Chelsea sign France defender Lacroix from Crystal Palace
-
AI data centre supplier Zhongji InnoLight slips on Hong Kong debut
-
Root named England Test captain, Fleming appointed coach
-
Eurozone economy grows despite Middle East war
-
May, June heatwaves caused 2,877 extra deaths in England: govt
-
Singapore group will develop 'most promising' Ebola vaccine
-
France firefighters hopeful, as Spain reports 'almost no flames'
-
BMW profit down a third as carmaker plans job cuts
-
Shell profit surges as Mideast war fuels oil prices
Montreal has worst air of any major city as wildfires rage: monitor
Forest fires in Canada left Montreal blanketed with smog on Sunday, giving it the worst air quality of any major city in the world, according to a pollution monitor.
Quebec province's most populous city had 'unhealthy' air quality according to IQAir, which tracks pollution around the globe, as hundreds of wildfires burned across the country.
Environment Canada issued smog warnings in several Quebec regions due to the fires, saying, "high concentrations of fine particulate matter are causing poor air quality and reduced visibilities," with conditions to persist until Monday morning.
The agency urged residents to avoid outdoor activities and wear face masks if they must go outside.
Outdoor pools and sports areas have been closed and multiple outside events, including concerts and sports competitions, have been cancelled due to the unhealthy smog.
"It's really like a fog, except it's smoke from the forest fires. It's really hard to breathe, and it stings the eyes a bit too," said 18-year-old Fauve Lepage Vallee, lamenting that a festival she was due to attend had been cancelled.
There are 80 active forest fires in Quebec, according to Quebec's forest fire protection agency, SOPFEU, with several growing over the weekend due to dry weather and high temperatures.
"The extent of the smoke is making it particularly difficult for air tankers and helicopters to be effective," SOPFEU said.
However, "significant amounts" of rain are expected on Monday or Tuesday in the northwest of the province, it added.
On Wednesday, 119 French firefighters are due arrive in Quebec to relieve a contingent of their compatriots in the field since early June.
"They will also be deployed to Roberval," 250 kilometers (150 miles) north of Quebec City, for a 21 day mission, said Stephane Caron, a spokesman for SOPFEU.
Across the country, the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) lists more than 450 active fires, some 240 of which are deemed out of control.
Canada is experiencing an unprecedented year of fires, with more than 7.4 million hectares burned since the beginning of January.
L.Davis--AMWN
