/Photo alliance, ASSOCIATE PRESS, José Luis Magana
Washington – Smoke from severe wildfires in Canada has now reached the US capital, Washington. Yesterday (local time), the city was covered in thick fog and a pungent burning smell hung in the air. The highest level of air quality warning was in effect for parts of the U.S. East Coast region.
This meant that spending time outdoors was associated with health risks; the air was sometimes worse than in cities in China or India, known for their air pollution.
US President Joe Biden spoke of a “gross” indication of the consequences of climate change and announced that additional firefighting teams would be sent to Canada. The Washington Zoo has temporarily closed its doors out of concern for “the safety of our animals, staff and visitors.”
The Washington baseball team canceled a game. Schools in the US capital canceled all outdoor events such as sports, and students also had to spend breaks in class.
More than 150 wildfires continued to burn in the Canadian province of Quebec yesterday, with nearly 90 out of control. The risk of new fires has been described as “extreme” by the authorities. © afp/aerzteblatt.de
