Smoke from wildfires raging in Canada has spread across New York City and surrounding areas in the United States. In response, the New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation and Health have issued an air quality health advisory.
Parts of New England have also come under similar warnings.
According to media reports, advisories have been issued for Long Island, the New York metropolitan area, the Lower Hudson Valley, the Upper Hudson Valley, and the Adirondacks. Authorities have warned that air quality in these regions has become “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”
Meanwhile, thousands of people in Canada have already evacuated their homes due to the wildfires. As smoke drifts southward into the northern U.S., concerns about air pollution are growing.
On Saturday, air quality index (AQI) levels across much of New York are expected to exceed 100, potentially reaching as high as 135, according to forecasts. Several parts of New England are also under alert.
Currently, more than 550 wildfires are active across Canada, with the majority concentrated in Manitoba province. Over the past year, wildfires have scorched approximately 6.1 million hectares (15 million acres) of land across the country.
The most intense wildfire activity this year occurred in May and June in western Canada. In Saskatchewan and Manitoba alone, local authorities were forced to evacuate around 30,000 people. Emergency declarations were also issued in the affected regions.
Source: BBC