New York, like most of the east coast of the United States, is shrouded in a thick layer of smoke from the Canadian wildfires. “You seem to be on the march,” says correspondent David Hammelburg from the American city.
Since nearly the end of April, eastern Canada has been ravaged by wildfires. The consequences of this are now being felt in New York City, some 4,000 kilometers away. The horizon disappeared under the smoke and the sky turned red.
“There is something apocalyptic about this. As if you were on Mars
“It’s the worst air quality here since the 1980s,” says New York correspondent Hammelburg. “It’s even worse than after the 2001 attacks.” He describes how the streets are almost empty. And those who venture outside do so with a face mask. “There is something apocalyptic about this. As if you were on Mars.’
Due to poor air quality, all outdoor activities were halted and “even the New York Yankees baseball team did not play its scheduled game.” “And yet there is a lot of criticism of Mayor Eric Adams,” Hammelburg says. “Many say he should have raised the alarm sooner. For example, schools were open and many parents were not happy about it.”
The ground is dry as bone
Two weeks ago, Hammelburg itself was still in Canada during the bushfires. He’s not surprised they got so out of hand. “It hasn’t rained since the snow melted in Canada. The ground is barren,” he says. “And there aren’t enough resources and manpower to put out the fire.” Aid has already arrived from the United States and Europe to assist Canadian firefighters.
Expectations are also not good. Even though summer hasn’t started yet, the fires are fifteen times higher than the average. And it seems likely that the next few months will be hot and dry. “The government is distraught and helpless,” Hammelburg said.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
