© CBC News / ReutersWildfire is worsening along highway 63 Fort McMurray, Alberta Canada May 3, 2016.
The entire population of Fort McMurray in northern Alberta, Canada has been ordered to abandon their homes after a wildfire ravaging a nearby forest moved into the area. The fire has already destroyed homes in several neighborhoods.
Fort McMurray is an urban service area with a population of about
80,000 people.
A mandatory evacuation notice was issued for the whole city on Tuesday after the wildfire began spreading uncontrollably.
Local authorities have advised residents to evacuate to the Noralta Lodge north of the city because outgoing Highway 36 has been partially blocked due to the fire.
The fire first was detected on Sunday to the southwest of the residential area. It is believed to have covered more than 2,656 hectares (6,540 acres) as of late Monday. Although, more than 90 firefighters have been deployed to battle the fire, the situation on Tuesday has worsened due to strong winds. On Tuesday afternoon the fire breached Highway 63, the main road out of the city.
Several homes in Beacon Hill and the Centennial Trailer Park have been destroyed in the fire, CBC reported.
Comment: Seismic activity in the country has also increased recently:
73 earthquakes in 12 hours hit between two volcanoes in Costa Rica