Lead
Toronto's air quality ranked the worst among major cities globally on Wednesday as smoke from wildfires burning in northwestern Ontario blanketed the city and spread into the northeastern United States, triggering multiple health warnings and evacuations.
The Swiss air quality technology company IQAir ranked Toronto as having the worst air quality across the globe, surpassing Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and New Delhi, India, according to Al Jazeera and The Guardian. Environment Canada reported an Air Quality Health Index reading of 10+, classified as "very high risk," with forecasts suggesting hazardous conditions could persist through Thursday night.
Coverage Comparison
Al Jazeera reported that Toronto's air quality ranked the worst among all major cities in the world, with smoke from northwestern Ontario blankets the skies. The outlet noted that while wildfires continue burning through sparsely populated areas hundreds of miles from Toronto, Canada's largest city, cities in the area are not directly threatened. Al Jazeera also cited IQAir's ranking, which placed Toronto ahead of Kinshasa and New Delhi, and reported that over 800 active fires are burning nationwide.
France 24 — English reported that smoke from more than 100 active wildfires in northern Ontario made Toronto's air quality the current worst in the world and caused yellow, smoky air in cities across the northeastern US. The outlet also detailed a heatwave in Toronto that shattered a three-decade record, reaching 37.3C in the downtown core, with runways at the city's main international airport hitting 55C. The Guardian noted that mandatory evacuations have been ordered from a number of First Nations communities due to the fires.
The Guardian's coverage emphasized the devastating impact on communities, including striking video footage of a train near Armstrong, Ontario, where a crew member described being "encased in flames." The railway company Canadian National confirmed the crew had been "safely evacuated." The outlet also reported that families were fleeing by boat, with photographer Nadya Kwandibens posting on social media that her family hometown, Collins, Ontario, was "GONE."
Key Claims
- Toronto's air quality ranked the worst among major cities globally, according to Al Jazeera, France 24 — English, and The Guardian, all citing IQAir's ranking.
- Over 100 active wildfires are burning in northern Ontario, as reported by France 24 — English.
- More than 800 active fires are burning nationwide in Canada, according to Al Jazeera.
- The heatwave in Toronto reached 37.3C, as reported by The Guardian.
- Mandatory evacuations have been ordered from First Nations communities, according to The Guardian and supported by Al Jazeera's report on evacuations.
- Wildfire smoke has spread into the northeastern United States, with air quality alerts issued across large parts of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, as reported by The Guardian.
- Health warnings have been issued in Toronto and New York City, with residents advised to limit outdoor activities, according to Al Jazeera and France 24 — English.
- Over 1.9 million hectares of land have been burned by the wildfires in Canada, a figure reported by Al Jazeera and The Guardian.