Heavy smoke from still-active forest fires in Canada blanketed Montreal on Sunday, making the city the world’s most polluted air, a specialist agency said.
A smog warning issued by Environment Canada remains in effect for many areas of Quebec. Montreal was the city with the worst air quality in the world on Sunday because of so many fine particles, according to Icair, a Swiss company that specializes in the study of atmospheric pollutants.
Due to the smoke, several events had to be postponed, including the picnic electronic event in Parc Jean-Trebeau, the Ironman in Mont-Tremblant, a hundred kilometers north of Montreal, and the mixed relay of the Old World Triathlon Championship series. Port of Montreal.
Masks are recommended and outdoor activities are not recommended until Monday. “The Emergency Operations Coordination Committee asks us to close swimming pools, paddling pools and outdoor sports facilities until at least noon Monday,” wrote Luc Rabouin, mayor of the borough of Plateau-Mont-Montreal, on Twitter. Royal in Montreal.
There are 81 active forest fires in Quebec, 27 of which are considered uncontrollable. Dry weather and high temperatures caused several fires over the weekend. “The importance of the smoke makes the interventions of tankers and helicopters particularly difficult,” according to the Société de protection des forêts contre le feu du Québec (SOPFEU), indicating that “significant amounts” of rain are expected. Monday or Tuesday in the north-west of the province.
Across the country, the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center (CIFFC) lists 470 active fires, of which 244 are out of control. Canada is living through an unprecedented year, with more than 7.4 million hectares burned since the beginning of January.
