Massive wildfire in Canada consumes everything in its path, emergency evacuation ordered for 100,000 residents

About 100,000 residents of the city of Fort McMurray, 400 km north of Edmonton, the centre of the Canadian province of Alberta, were ordered to evacuate on Tuesday evening due to a fire that ravaged several neighbourhoods while releasing thick smoke, reports the news agency Patria.

Forest and low vegetation have been set ablaze and the fire is advancing rapidly, "the entire city of Fort McMurray is under a mandatory evacuation order" except for the sector south of the airport, the Alberta emergency service announced.

"This is a frightening and stressful situation for the people who had to leave their homes under these circumstances," Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said on Tuesday evening at a televised press conference.

The goal is "to ensure the safety of people, get them out of the city and look after their safety."

"We have not recorded any injured or deceased persons," Notley added, emphasising that the hospital also had to be fully evacuated.

Held back until Monday south of the city, the fire spread due to the north-eastern wind and soon engulfed the first city districts on Tuesday. The province is experiencing drought and the temperature record was broken with nearly 30 degrees, writes Index.