Devastating forest fires force 17,000 residents to flee from homes
A state of emergency has been declared in Manitoba, Canada, due to fast-moving wildfires, leading to the evacuation of 17,000 people and a request for military support.
The complete evacuation of Flin Flon, a city of nearly 5,000 residents near the Saskatchewan border, was ordered after winds shifted, pushing flames dangerously close to the community.
Manitoba has reported more than 100 wildfires this year, surpassing the seasonal average, with 22 currently active and fueled by hot, dry conditions.
Evacuations have extended into Saskatchewan, with the town of Creighton also ordering residents to leave, and emergency shelters have been set up in nearby cities to accommodate evacuees.
Nearly 200,000 hectares of land have burned this year, triple the five-year annual average, with officials linking the increasing intensity and frequency of wildfires to climate change.
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