Search Suspended for Missing Man in Swiss Glacier Collapse That Destroyed 90 Percent of an Alpine Village
The landslide sent plumes of dust skyward and coated with mud nearly all of an Alpine village that authorities had evacuated earlier this month as a precaution. State Councilor Stéphane Ganzer told Radio Télévision Suisse that 90 percent of the village was destroyed.
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USA Today
05-08-2025
- USA Today
'Prolonged impact': Canadian wildfires prompt air quality warnings for Midwest, Northeast
Forecasters say relatively weak winds have left Canadian wildfire smoke to linger over the U.S. Stronger winds are expected to bring relief later in the week. Wildfires burning out of control in Canada are leaving a trail of smoke across the northern United States and prompting local authorities to issue health warnings for millions of people due to poor air quality. Blazes raging in the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba are creating poor conditions in the Midwest and Northeast, the National Weather Service said on Aug. 4. Officials from Minnesota to Maine have issued air quality alerts, according to the Storm Prediction Center. The impact from the fires isn't as dramatic as the wildfires of 2023 that left New York City blanketed in a moonglow orange. But weak winds have left the smoke to linger over the northern United States for days, said Dan Cornish, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Michigan. "We're definitely seeing prolonged impact, we've had several days of hazy skies," Cornish told USA TODAY, adding the horizon outside the weather service office in Gaylord, Michigan, has been a "milky gray" for days. "Unfortunately, that's just going to continue to deteriorate air quality across much of this area." Storm Prediction Center alert maps show blanket air quality warnings for the states of Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, and the New England region. Stronger winds aren't expected to blow the smoke until Aug. 6 or Aug. 7 for the Midwest, Cornish said. Conditions in the Northeast will likely improve by the end of the week, according to the forecaster. Authorities recommend limiting outdoor activity in the areas impacted by smoke from Canadian wildfires. Children, older adults, and people suffering from respiratory conditions, including asthma, are particularly vulnerable to the fine particulate matter small enough to be inhaled that is the toxic byproduct of wildfires, environmental officials warned. Where are the wildfires in Canada? The worst of the blazes impacting the United States are burning in the provinces of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and western Ontario, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center. Most of the Canadian blazes are sparked by lightning in dry, remote forested areas that are difficult for firefighters to access except by aircraft, according to Cornish. "You get a lot of wildfires that can start up in those conditions, and it's a challenge but that's the nature of it, quite literally," Cornish said. "There's nothing you can do to prevent it." What cities are the worst off? The blazes have catapulted major American and Canadian cities into the most polluted places in the world, according to a global air-quality index maintained by IQAir, a Swiss-based air quality monitoring company. Detroit, Minneapolis, and Toronto were among the top 11 most polluted cities in the world on the evening of Aug. 4, according to IQAir. New York City and Montreal were among the top 20 most polluted cities, according to the global index. See the map of Canadian wildfires Side effects of inhaling wildfire smoke Wildfire smoke can irritate one's eyes, nose, and throat and cause the following symptoms: Particulate matter (PM) is one of the main components of wildfire smoke, comprised of small particles of solids or liquids suspended in the air, USA TODAY previously reported. According to Yale Medicine, the particles can be 10 micrometers, PM 10, or as small as 2.5 micrometers, PM 2.5, which can easily pass through a person's usual defense mechanisms and can "penetrate deep into the lungs, where they can impair lung function, cause illnesses, such as bronchitis, and increase asthma attacks." The following is linked to exposure to the PM 2.5, according to Yale Medicine: Contributing: Julia Gomez
USA Today
26-07-2025
- USA Today
Smoke descends on Northeastern US. Map shows air quality impacts.
State officials from Maine to New York issued alerts for fine particulate matter, a toxic byproduct of wildfires that is small enough to be inhaled. NEW YORK − Wildfire smoke wafted from Canada to create unhealthy air quality levels across the Northeast on July 26. State officials from Maine to New York issued alerts for fine particulate matter, a toxic byproduct of wildfires that is small enough to be inhaled. Smoky conditions impacted cities including Boston and New York. Canada's fires could produce more smoke blowing into the Northeast through the afternoon, said Brooke Taber, a National Weather Service meteorologist stationed in Burlington, Vermont. Smoke is also causing limited visibility in some areas. Wind changes could provide a respite by the night, Taber said. Montreal had some of the worst air quality in the world due to fires in the Canadian Prairies, the Canadian Press reported, citing IQAir, a Swiss-based monitoring company. Several wildfires burning in Saskatchewan and Manitoba are sending large smoke plumes eastward, according to Quebec's fire provincial agency. Meanwhile, New York City climbed on IQAir's list of cities with unhealthy air levels. Hazy skies and the faint smell of smoke blanketed Manhattan on Saturday. Map shows US air quality Why air quality matters Officials urged people to stay indoors to reduce exposure, and to limit strenuous activity. Exposure can cause short-term effects such as irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, along with coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath. It can be particularly dangerous for people in sensitive groups, such as children, older people and those with chronic health conditions, such as asthma or heart disease. Canada is experiencing another harsh wildfire season in a warming climate. Dozens of wildfires are blazing uncontrolled, according to Canada's natural resources department. In early July, Manitoba's government declared a state of emergency for its historic fires. July 17: Brace for more smoky skies as Canadian wildfires rage Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Reach him by email at emcuevas1@ or on Signal at emcuevas.01.
Hamilton Spectator
26-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Montreal air quality among worst in the world due to wildfires in Prairies
MONTRÉAL - Environment Canada has issued air quality warnings across southern Quebec due to smoke from wildfires in the Canadian Prairies. IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company, on Saturday morning ranked Montreal as the city with the worst air quality in the world. By early afternoon, it had dropped to second place behind Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. People should limit their time outdoors and reschedule sports and other outdoor events, Environment Canada says. 'During heavy smoke conditions, everyone's health is at risk regardless of their age or health status,' the weather agency said in an air quality warning issued Saturday. Air quality in Quebec is expected to improve Saturday evening and reach more normal levels on Sunday. The smoke will then move toward New Brunswick and the northeastern United States. A stagnant air mass contributed to the intensity of the smoke on Saturday, but improved air circulation is expected on Sunday. Environment Canada says those most vulnerable include people with existing health conditions, seniors, pregnant women, infants, and young children, and that they should avoid strenuous outdoor activities and seek medical attention if experiencing symptoms. Mild symptoms include eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches and mild coughing. More serious symptoms include wheezing, chest pains and severe coughing. Environment Canada says people should keep windows and doors closed as much as possible while indoors. Wearing N95 masks outdoors can reduce exposure to fine particles, the agency says. Heat warnings are also in effect in southern Quebec for Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, with temperatures expected to top 30 degrees C during the day and remain above 20 degrees C at night. The weather agency recommends checking on elderly people and those living alone, and to watch for early signs of heat exhaustion, including headache, nausea, dizziness, thirst, dark urine and intense fatigue. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 26, 2025.
