According to the New York Times , on June 7 (local time), smoke from 250 large-scale forest fires in Canada forced the New York government to postpone many flights and large gatherings due to concerns about increasingly poor air quality in the city.
Also according to the New York Times , smoke from the fires has covered New York City and the northeastern United States since June 7, causing air quality in the area to drop to dangerous levels.
By the afternoon of June 7, parts of Manhattan were covered in a hazy orange as smoke partially blocked the sunlight, and visibility was also limited in all five boroughs of the city and surrounding areas.
New York was bathed in a hazy orange as smoke blocked the sun on June 7. (Photo: New York Times)
In response to the situation, New York authorities have urged residents to wear masks when leaving their homes and to limit their trips outside. Many schools in the city have also been closed.
The smoke also forced New York authorities to close public areas and postpone several large gatherings, including three musical performances and two baseball games on June 7. Some flights to New York were also delayed until later in the day.
New York's public hospital system is reporting a slight increase in patients suffering from respiratory illnesses due to polluted air.
New York is not the only city in the state facing poor air quality due to smoke from wildfires, the New York Times reported. The risk of respiratory illnesses is widespread as the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Air Quality Index (AQI) has risen above 400 – usually a reading above 300 indicates hazardous air quality.
Satellite images of smoke from wildfires in Canada covering New York state and many other states in the Northeastern US. (Photo: BBC)
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the air quality in the state is currently at hazardous levels, calling it a crisis. She also warned that air quality is unlikely to improve in the next few days and urged residents to be prepared.
According to NASA satellite images, smoke from wildfires in Canada is covering parts of the Northeast and Midwest of the United States. In addition to New York, Philadelphia is also under a hazardous air quality warning, and smoke is even spreading as far as southern Alabama.
In a statement on June 7, the White House said the United States has sent more than 600 firefighters and support personnel to help Canada extinguish wildfires along the border between the two countries.
Tra Khanh (Source: The New York Times)
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