Canada under siege: Wildfires force mass evacuations in Manitoba; indigenous communities at the forefront
Manitoba
, marking one of the largest displacements in the province's history.
Pimicikamak Cree Nation suffers
Among the hardest-hit are Indigenous communities like the Pimicikamak Cree Nation, where 767 people are still awaiting evacuation amid encroaching flames and heavy smoke.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Bo Derek's Probably The Most Gorgeous 68-Year-Old.
Paperela
Undo
"It's very smoky here [and] it's getting thicker, because the fire's at our doorstep," said Chief David Monias of Pimicikamak Cree Nation.
The community, located approximately 530 kilometers north of Winnipeg, has been grappling with deteriorating air quality and limited evacuation routes. Highway junctions leading to Norway House, the primary evacuation point, have been compromised by fire and smoke, causing significant delays.
Live Events
Also Read
:
Over 4,000 evacuated as wildfires threaten Northern Saskatchewan
Efforts are underway
Efforts to airlift residents have been hampered by adverse weather conditions, leading to unexpected flight cancellations. The Canadian Armed Forces have since arrived in Norway House with planes to facilitate the evacuation. "Please, we need your full co-operation to get on these flights when your name is called," urged Chief Monias. "These fires are unpredictable and dangerous."
Situation in Sherrindon
The situation is equally dire in Sherridon, a community of about 85 residents, now surrounded by fire. "Right now, we've had no loss [of structures], but it is surrounding us completely," said Deputy Mayor Sheryl Matheson. "I had it at the footstep of my [Kenanow] Lodge yesterday, and the
wildfire
crew was able to extinguish it."
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew declared a province-wide state of emergency on Wednesday(May 28), enabling the mobilization of additional resources and emergency measures. "This is the largest evacuation in many Manitobans' living memory," Kinew stated.
The declaration allows for coordinated efforts between federal, provincial, and local authorities to combat the fires and support affected communities.
Evacuees are being relocated to shelters in Winnipeg and other urban centers, with facilities like the Billy Mosienko Arena being repurposed to accommodate the influx. The Canadian Red Cross and other organizations are providing essential services, including food, water, and medical care.
Manitoba is battling 22 active wildfires as of May 29, with 83 out of 158 fires nationwide considered out of control. The fires have already scorched approximately 491,000 acres, and smoke is expected to drift south into the US, affecting air quality in the Midwest.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
18 minutes ago
- Time of India
Indore sees mix of isolated showers & sunshine, heavy rain likely by Aug 15
Indore: The city experienced a mix of weather on Monday, with isolated rain in some parts and bright sunshine in others. The morning began on a muggy note with humidity touching 93% at 8:30 am, while the temperature stood at 24 degrees Celsius. By 5:30 pm, the mercury rose to 28.8 degrees Celsius with relative humidity dropping to 74%. The day's maximum temperature was recorded at 30.2 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal, while the minimum settled at 22 degrees Celsius, close to the season's average. No rainfall was recorded by the Met department in the city during the past 24 hours. So far, Indore received 293 mm of seasonal rainfall, which is 260.9 mm below normal. According to the meteorological department, the monsoon trough is currently passing through Amritsar, Chandigarh, Shahjahanpur, Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Darbhanga, and Jalpaiguri, extending towards Arunachal Pradesh. An upper air cyclonic circulation persists over north-west Uttar Pradesh as well as over Kutch and its adjoining areas. A low-pressure area is also likely to form over northwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal around Aug 13. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tu Du: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More Undo Dr Divya Surendra from the Met Office said that light to moderate rainfall or drizzle with thunderstorms and lightning is expected in Indore and surrounding districts including Ujjain, Ratlam, Dhar, Dewas, Shajapur, Agar, Mandsaur, Neemuch, Khargone, Barwani, Alirajpur, Jhabua, Khandwa, and Burhanpur for the next two days. From Aug 14, some areas may receive heavy rainfall, particularly in parts of Dewas and Khandwa districts. On Aug 15, the Met department has forecast heavy rain for several parts of the Indore-Ujjain division, covering Indore, Ujjain, Jhabua, Alirajpur, Dhar, Barwani, Burhanpur, Khandwa, Khargone, Dewas, and Shajapur. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Tropical storm Erin brewing in Atlantic, could become first hurricane of the season
Tropical Storm Erin , formed in the Atlantic Ocean is showing signs that it could strengthen into the first hurricane of the 2025 season. The storm had its origin from a tropical wave that moved off the coast of West Africa last week and slowly became more organized as it moved over the warm ocean waters. As of Monday morning, Erin was located several hundred miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands with winds near 45 miles per hour. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecasters expect the storm to become stronger over the next few days as it moves towards west-northwest. The surrounding environment is favorable for intensification, with warm sea surface temperatures and low wind helping the process to grow. Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass Batch-1 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 2 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 3 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals By Vaibhav Sisinity View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 4 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program Forecast and Possible Path Right now, Erin remains over open waters, posing little immediate threat to land. Current forecasts suggest the storm might turn away from the U.S. coastline, although it could affect Bermuda later this week. People living in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and along the eastern United States coast are advised to stay alert and get official updates, as storms can shift. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 15 Most Beautiful Women in the World Undo Experts predict Erin could reach hurricane strength, classified as Category 1, in midweek. If so, this would mark the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm serves as a reminder that the peak months of August and September tend to be the busiest for tropical activity in the region. The Bigger Picture In addition to Erin , meteorologists are watching a few other tropical disturbances in the Atlantic basin. While these areas currently have a low chance of turning into storms, their presence signals a busy season ahead. Live Events Scientists also point to warming ocean temperatures, which are linked to climate change, as a factor contributing to stronger and frequent storms. While Erin may not make landfall, it still has the strength to produce dangerous waves and rip currents that can affect coastal areas. What to Watch For The National Hurricane Center warns that Erin could become a hurricane within 48 hours. Residents of Bermuda and nearby islands should prepare for possible impacts. Even storms that stay offshore can cause rough seas and dangerous conditions for ships and coastal communities. With the hurricane season ongoing, staying informed and ready is the key. Tropical Storm Erin's formation is an early warning that powerful storms may be on the way in the months ahead. FAQs: Q1. What is Tropical Storm Erin? A1. Erin is a tropical storm currently in the Atlantic Ocean. It may strengthen into a hurricane soon. Q2. What causes tropical storms to form? A2. Warm ocean waters and favorable weather conditions help storms develop and grow.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Dharali's famed apple orchards, its economic lifeline, wiped off from slopes
Dehradun: These are among the most important weeks for Dharali's economy and the livelihood of its 900-odd residents — the brief apple harvest season — when the air carries the faint scent of ripe fruit and cold, fresh mountain water. Instead, the orchards that have anchored the village for generations lie buried beneath as much as 30 feet of debris after the Aug 5 flash flood tore through the settlement, leaving behind a silence broken only by the scrape of shovels and the rumble of repair machinery on half-cleared roads. For generations, Dharali's people have relied on apple farming, but many also run homestays, shops and hotels, all now submerged or reduced to rubble. Fields of rajma, broccoli, cauliflower and capsicum — crops grown to supplement orchard income — have vanished under a thick layer of silt. In some places, only the tips of orchard fences and the corners of rooftops remain visible. By the time the water receded, the terraced rows of apple trees in as many as 50 orchards had been erased from the landscape, leaving their owners with only a fraction of the crop and no way to move it to market. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brother Donates Kidney To Save Sister's Life. One Year Later, He Says, I Wish I Never Did It, When This Happens Daily Sport X Undo With the orchards gone, even the tools to save what remains have disappeared. The village's only pesticide and seed shop, run by Sachin Panwar, has been washed away. "About 4.5 hectares of orchards and farmland are destroyed, erasing apple produce worth Rs 70 to 80 lakh," he says. Inside the gutted shop, metal shelves are twisted, and packets of seeds lie scattered in the mud. With his shop gone, no pesticides remain to treat the few surviving trees. Among those worst hit is Umesh Panwar, a former block development committee member whose orchard, house, 15-room hotel and two mobile towers on his property were swept away. He was in Uttarkashi with his family when the flood struck. "I have nothing to live on and nothing to feed my family. We have to start our lives from scratch. The only satisfaction is that my family is safe," he tells TOI, standing on a patch of bare earth where his orchard once grew. Uttarkashi, the state's largest apple-producing district, has orchards stretching across more than 1,100 hectares, and in this village alone, apple trees had stood for four and five decades. Mahavir Singh, another planter, says between 40 and 50 orchards have simply disappeared. "There was a cottage in the middle of my orchard which no longer exists. Its caretaker is missing," he says, adding that harvesting would have continued into next month, but without road access, the next challenge is moving any salvaged produce to buyers before it becomes worthless. Fallen apples, he says, are already rotting in the debris. Manoj Rana, also an orchard owner, says farmers had received large orders for Rakshabandhan but could not fulfil them. He urged the authorities to announce a minimum support price and buy up whatever can be harvested. "Neighbouring villages like Mukhaba, Harsil, Bagori, Jhala, Jaspur, Burali and Sukki have also lost connectivity. Roads are being repaired for passenger vehicles, but it will take time before trucks can carry our produce," he adds. Rana recalls that after the 2013 Kedarnath disaster, Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam was appointed the nodal procurement agency and says the same approach is needed now. District horticulture officer Dr Rajnish Singh confirms that around 4.5 hectares of apple orchards are lost and officials are assessing the damage to determine compensation. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
