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CBC
a day ago
- Climate
- CBC
Wildfires are burning. What does the smoke mean for athletes at the Canada Games?
As parts of the Avalon Peninsula face wildfires and poor air quality conditions as a result, the CEO of the 2025 Canada Games host society says it's an issue organizers are keeping an eye on. On Wednesday, Karen Sherriffs said organizers have been working closely with the province's emergency operations centre and that conditions haven't hampered competition as of yet. "At this point, they have assured us that there should be no impact to the 2025 Canada Games," Sherriffs told reporters. "[It's] no different than any weather event that we would have for the Canada Games. We would work really closely with the national sport organizations, who would make a final call on whether a game should be delayed, cancelled or postponed." A fire burning in the area of Holyrood is of particular interest, as soccer matches are scheduled to take place in nearby Conception Bay South. Parts of C.B.S. have been evacuated as a result of the fire. Sherriffs said air quality has been built into contingency planning for the games, noting that most competition venues have some kind of backup plan in place. Any backup plan would have to meet national sporting standards, she added. For example, the soccer field in C.B.S. is one of four in use for competition. "That's part of our planning that we've been doing for months and years now," she said. Sherriffs said organizers will continue to make decisions with the most up to date information during the games, also accounting for things like weather and high temperatures — which could reach upwards of 30 C in some areas during the first week of competition. She reiterated that any decisions made are made with athletes' health and safety top of mind. Soccer association says events should be moved indoors Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Premier John Hogan said government officials are also monitoring air quality ahead of the games. "Air quality is certainly, potentially, going to be an issue," he said. "Health and safety of the athletes is a priority." Smoky conditions have impacted soccer matches and practices throughout the week, including in communities further from the fires like in Mount Pearl and Paradise. Air quality concerns won't hamper Canada Games yet, CEO says 34 minutes ago There's been a haze hanging over the Avalon Peninsula as a result of ongoing wildfire. And with the Canada Games just a couple of days away, organizers and athletes have concerns about air quality for those competing outdoors. The CBC's Alex Kennedy has more on what plans are in place, and how some in the sports community want other options considered. "It's something we haven't had to deal with in the past from the soccer association … and something that we haven't even had to deal with over our lifespan," said Phil Quann, all-star director for the Mount Pearl Soccer Association. "I think it could be a very big deal, depending on, kind of, where these fires spread." Chris Follett, the association's club league director and a firefighter of 15 years, said he believes the idea of moving some outdoor events indoors should be explored. Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald told CBC News Thursday that it's too early to make that kind of decision. "I think we have to take things on a day-by-day basis, really," she said. "To go through all of that work to change things around when you don't need to would not necessarily be helpful." As the games kick off this weekend, Fitzgerald said she believes current conditions are good enough not to impact competition. "For the most part, I think things are good to go here now. Obviously we're going to be keeping an eye on things," she said. "The Canada Games host society are keeping an eye on things very closely just to make sure that, you know, the conditions are best for the athletes to be active."
CNA
22-07-2025
- Climate
- CNA
Philippine flooding displaces thousands in Manila, two missing
MANILA: Floodwaters driven by torrential rains ground life in the Philippine capital to a halt on Tuesday (Jul 22) with tens of thousands evacuated from their homes and at least two people believed missing. Schools and government offices in Manila and the surrounding provinces were closed after a night of rain that saw the region's Marikina River burst its banks. More than 23,000 people living along the river were evacuated overnight, sheltering in schools, village halls and covered courtyards. Another 25,000 more were evacuated in the metropolitan area's Quezon and Caloocan cities. "Usually these people are from low-lying areas like beside creeks (feeding into the river)," according to Wilmer Tan of the Marikina rescue office, who said the river had reached 18m in height. An elderly woman and her driver were swept down a swollen creek as they attempted to cross a bridge in Caloocan, said John Paul Nietes, an emergency operations centre assistant supervisor. "Their car was recovered last night. The rescue operation is continuing, but as of today, they haven't found either of them," he said. "The car window was broken, so the hope is that they were able to escape." Floodwaters were receding on Tuesday morning, though thousands of people remained unable to return to their homes. Ongoing monsoon rains have killed at least three people and left another seven missing in the central and southern Philippines since Tropical Storm Wipha skirted the country on Friday, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. At least 20 storms or typhoons strike or come near the Philippines each year, with the country's poorest regions typically the hardest hit. Deadly and destructive storms are becoming more powerful as the world gets warmer because of climate change. "This is hard, because if the rain will continue ... the river will swell," Manila street sweeper Avelina Lumangtad, 61, told AFP as she stood next to a flooded thoroughfare.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Drone collides with helicopter responding to Texas floods, damaging ‘critical piece' of response equipment
AUSTIN (KXAN) — A helicopter involved in emergency operations in Kerr County — which was struck hardest by catastrophic flash flooding across Texas — was damaged after colliding with a private drone flying in the area. The city of Kerrville and the city's police department made posts on Facebook Monday evening about the collision, which happened earlier that day. MAP: Where have flash flooding fatalities been confirmed in Texas? 'This afternoon, a private drone illegally operating in restricted airspace collided with a helicopter involved in emergency operations in Kerr County,' the city's post said. 'The helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing, and a critical piece of response equipment is now out of service until further notice.' The post said the collision was 'entirely preventable' because of Temporary Flight Restrictions, or TFRs, in the area. However, the TFRs were not in effect until Tuesday. Temporary Flight Restrictions are issued by the Federal Aviation Administration and restrict aircraft (including drones) from operating without permission in a certain area for a limited time, according to the FAA website. They are communicated through Notices to Airmen, or NOTAMs. Pilots must always check NOTAMs prior to their flights, per the FAA. Reasons for issuing a TFR, according to the FAA, include: Natural disasters such as wildfires and hurricanes Certain major sporting events Emergency or national security situations There are two current TFRs that cover a strip of Texas that was impacted by flooding, including Kerr County. They are NOTAM 5/3551 and NOTAM 5/3840. Both are in effect from Tuesday, July 8, through Sunday, July 13. The FAA keeps an up-to-date list and map of TFRs on its website. There are six different TFR types: Space Operations, Air Shows/Sports, Security, Hazards, VIP, and Special. The two TFRs pictured above are two different types. The one that covers the wider area (5/3840) is a Security TFR, and the other (5/3551) is a Hazards TFR. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
