Canada wildfire forces mass evacuation in Fort McMurray

BBC NEWS

The entire population of the Canadian city of Fort McMurray has been forced to evacuate because of a huge wildfire.

Some 80,000 people were told to leave as the blaze swept into the city, which is the gateway to the oil sands region. Homes, petrol stations and a hotel are among the buildings destroyed in the city, in the province of Alberta.

There was gridlock on roads. Many fled north after flames forced the closure of the main road south. No casualties have been reported so far.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley called it the "biggest evacuation... in the history of the province". She said the priority was to get people safely out of the city and find enough spaces in evacuation camps for everybody.

Emergency shelters have been set up in oil sands work camps to the north of Fort McMurray.

Image copyrightAP

Image captionThe blaze moved quickly towards Fort McMurray, forcing a mandatory evacuation

Image copyrightAP

Image captionThere were queues of traffic as people fled the city

Image copyrightReuters

Image captionDozens of homes and buildings have gone up in flames

Image copyrightAP

Image captionAround 100 firefighters are tackling the blaze, backed up by helicopters and air tankers with reinforcements on their way

Brian Jean, the leader of Alberta's opposition party, said: "My home of the last 10 years and the home I had for 15 years before that are both destroyed."

Another resident, Carol Christian, who fled with her son and cat and said it was an "overwhelming feeling to think that you'll never see your house again".

She said sitting in traffic was "absolutely horrifying". "You look up and then watch all the trees candle-topping... up the hills where you live, and you're thinking: "Oh my God. We got out just in time."

Image copyright@JustinTrudeau

Around 100 firefighters are tackling the blaze, backed up by nine air tankers and more than a dozen helicopters, officials say. Reinforcements are on their way.

The fire started on Sunday south of Fort McMurray, some 380km (235 miles) north of the provincial capital, Edmonton.

Fire officials had the fire contained until early Tuesday, when high temperatures and strong winds pushed the flames towards the city.