Hazardous air engulfs New York as smoke from Canada wildfires drifts: The TL;DR

A view shows the Manhattan skyline on June 7 as it is shrouded in haze and smoke which drifted south from wildfires in Canada. (Reuters)

The details: As of Wednesday evening local time, major metro areas such as Philadelphia, New Jersey, New Haven, and Connecticut, had air quality indices ranging from 200 to 300 – considered “very unhealthy,” according to the government’s air quality website. Schools across the US East Coast have cancelled outdoor activities and airline traffic has slowed due to the air pollution, news agency Reuters reported. Those living in the affected areas have been urged to stay indoors by the American government.

What stood out: New York City had an AQI of 484 at 5 pm on Wednesday, which is classified as “hazardous,” the city’s Mayor Eric Adams. This is the highest level on record in the city since the 1960s, he noted.

The cause: US’s neighbour on the East Coast, Canada, is experiencing what may be its worst-ever year of wildfire destruction as warm and dry conditions prevail over the northern country. More than 400 blazes have been reported nationwide nationwide, and over 20,000 people have been displaced.

The government statement: President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that the US government had deployed over 600 firefighters, support personnel, and equipment to support Canada in the wildfire crisis. “It’s critical that Americans experiencing dangerous air pollution, especially those with health conditions, listen to local authorities to protect themselves and their families,” he wrote on Twitter.

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ICYMI: Delhi has been seeing hazardous AQI levels during the stubble-burning months for the past few years. While the city recorded six days of ‘severe’ air quality in 2022, when the AQI was over 401, there were 24 such days in 2021 and 2019 each, 19 days in 2018, 15 days in 2020, nine ‘severe’ air days in 2017 and 25 such days in 2016.

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