Wildfire Smoke Turns Toronto Orange, Air Quality Plummets

Wildfires raging in Canada's Ontario province have blanketed Toronto in a thick, orange haze, drastically degrading air quality in the provincial capital. The city's air quality was ranked among the worst in the world on Wednesday, prompting concern among residents.

Some Torontonians have resorted to wearing face masks, as seen on cyclists navigating the city streets. Authorities are urging people to stay indoors to minimize exposure to the poor air quality. The smoke, originating from fires burning in central Canada, has created eerie scenes, with visibility reduced and the sky taking on an unusual hue.

According to Canada's public broadcaster CBC, the situation might persist until Friday. The country is currently battling over 800 wildfires, with more than a hundred burning out of control, according to Reuters. The majority of these fires are concentrated in the central provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan.

These provinces have also been experiencing severe heatwaves, with heat warnings issued for several regions. While the fires themselves do not directly threaten major urban centers, mandatory evacuations have been ordered in parts of Northwestern Ontario. The smoke plume is expected to spread significantly, potentially impacting the eastern coast of the United States in the coming days.