Emergency declared in Alberta as out of control wildfire rages

A state of emergency has been declared in the province of Alberta in Canada after a wildfire forced all 88,000 residents of Fort McMurray to flee, according to the BBC.

Officials say the fast-moving blaze could destroy much of the city.

The fire, which broke out on Sunday in the heart on the country's oil sands region, has gutted 1,600 buildings, including a new school.

The evacuation was largest-ever in Alberta. Oil companies operating in the area have been forced to cut output.

Several firms have shut down some pipelines. This was done to help evacuate non-essential personnel, reports say.

So far there have been no reports of deaths or injuries in the wildfire, but two women gave birth in one evacuation centre.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he would send military aircraft to help if they were needed.

Bernie Schmitte, an official at Alberta's agriculture ministry, said on Wednesday that the "catastrophic fire" had so far "resisted all suppression methods".

After flying over the burning city, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said the blaze had moved north and east across Fort McMurray.

The weather is expected to cool across Fort McMurray from Thursday.

But, if the winds behaved as predicted, Ms Notley said, the blaze would move into the Thickwood and Timberlea communities, as well as the area around the airport.

"Bad news does not get better with time," said Scott Long, executive director of Alberta's Emergency Management Agency.

"It is a possibility that we may lose a large portion of the town," he added. So far, he said, downtown Fort McMurray had been spared by the "herculean" work of firefighters.

Officials said the size of the blaze was now more than 10,000 hectares (39 square miles) and it was being tackled by 100 firefighters.

Fire services said high winds and hot temperatures were helping the blaze to spread over an even greater area.

Ms Notley praised Albertans for helping neighbours in need.

"We will get through this and we will come out stronger on the other side," she said.

Source : MENA