Forest fire smoke has made Montreal’s air the most unhealthy of any city in the world. In this respect informs monitoring agency IQAir.
According to experts, on Sunday, June 25, the daily air quality index reached 190 (the more, the worse), by June 26 it had dropped to 158. For comparison, at release date, Montreal is just ahead of Sao Paulo. A value of 162 and a typical value for Moscow on unfavorable days is about 60, which is considered “moderately harmful”. A value of 190 is considered “unhealthy,” and hourly readings in Montreal on the morning of the 25th were over 280.
Environment Canada has urged residents to avoid outdoor activities and wear masks if necessary. Outdoor pools and sports arenas were closed, and numerous outdoor events, including concerts and sporting events, were cancelled.
According to SOPFEU, Quebec’s wildfire agency, there are 80 active wildfires in Quebec, some of which are intensified due to hot weather.
“Due to the dense smoke, it is particularly difficult for firefighters and helicopters to operate effectively,” SOPFEU said in a statement.
The Canadian Interagency Wildfire Center (CIFFC) reported more than 450 active fires nationwide, of which about 240 were out of control.