80,000 Canadians evacuated as wildfires consume 10,000 hectares

WASHINGTON, May 4 (KUNA) -- A raging wildfire in the oil-rich state of Alberta in Canada has forced the evacuation of around 80,000 people on Wednesday.
Provincial officials have declared a state of emergency and asked the population of Fort McMurray, a town known for its oil industry north of Alberta, to evacuate as the massive fire damaged 1600 structures and destroyed devoured 10,000 hectares in the area.
While major oil production facilities in the providence are safe from the fire, the officials halted one major oil sands mining operation which produces 250,000 barrels of the country's total two million barrels a day.
Other energy and oil extractors in the vicinity also reported lowering in oil production due to the forced evacuations which could cause a bigger strain on the already sustained and prolonged low-oil prices in the international markets.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a news conference that the evacuation is the largest in Alberta's history and its effects so far are "absolutely devastating." (end) yt.gb