Smoke from wildfires in Canada has blanketed the U.S.: more than 100 million people are at risk
More than 100 million U.S. residents are under air quality alerts due to thick smoke from massive wildfires in Canada.
According to CNN, the air pollution has affected 18 states and the District of Columbia. The situation is currently most severe in Washington, D.C., where pollution levels pose a threat not only to people with chronic illnesses but also to healthy adults.
According to meteorologists, the smoke is spreading to the Great Lakes region, the Northeast, and the Mid-Atlantic coast of the U.S. due to air currents from Canada.
Local authorities are urging residents to limit their time outdoors. Hazardous air quality is expected to persist at least through Saturday. Rain and thunderstorms forecast for the coming days may help improve the situation.
Source: CNN.
The European Union has dispatched specialized firefighting aircraft to assist France and Portugal.
In the province of Almería in southern Spain, a massive wildfire has claimed the lives of at least 12 people. Emergency services continue to battle the blaze in the Los Gallardos area, where the disaster has created a critical situation.
