Over 1,200 tourists are stranded in Sikkim’s Mangan district due to disrupted road and communication networks caused by landslides. If weather permits on Sunday, evacuation efforts will commence. The state has experienced two natural calamities in recent days, including a landslide in Namchi district that claimed three lives and one in Mangan district that killed six.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) headquarters in Washington, D.C. was evacuated on Wednesday morning after a suspicious package was reported. Police responded to the scene and cleared the package, which contained two vials of blood. The source of the package and its contents remain under investigation.
On Tuesday, May 21, an Australian military C130 Hercules aircraft carrying tourists stranded in New Caledonia during a week of rioting and looting finally arrived in Brisbane. The flight, the first successful evacuation since the unrest erupted, brought approximately 50-60 passengers to safety, including children and pregnant women. The unrest, which began on May 13, has left six dead and hundreds injured, prompting the French government to send forces to quell the protests fueled by opposition to French rule.
The County of Grande Prairie No. 1 has downgraded an evacuation order to an alert for an area affected by a wildfire near Teepee Creek. The fire is now being held, and crews are monitoring the area. Residents in the affected area can now return home but must be prepared to leave if conditions change. The evacuation alert remains in place for Township Road 741 to a quarter section north of Township Road 734 and Range Road 32 to the Smoky River.
An evacuation order for Grande Prairie County has been downgraded to an alert as the wildfire moves away from the community. However, residents must prepare for a possible evacuation at any time. Meanwhile, evacuation alerts are still in place for Fort McMurray and surrounding areas in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB). Fire crews and resources continue to work on the fire, which is expected to increase in activity as temperatures rise. Winds are expected to push the fire away from Highway 63 and towards the Athabasca River.
A major structure fire in Bathurst, New Brunswick, is still burning but under control after forcing residents of St. Anne Street to evacuate on Saturday night. The City of Bathurst announced that the temporary shelter at the City Hall Pavillion Gym closed at 3 a.m. as it was safe for residents to return home, but the gym has since reopened to provide shelter for those concerned about air quality. The fire broke out at an Eddy Group location, a building materials store, and an air quality advisory has been issued for the western area of St. Anne Street.
Grande Prairie County No. 1 has been placed under an evacuation order due to a wildfire burning nearby. The fire is burning approximately 4 kilometers east of Teepee Creek, at approximately Range Road 31 and Township Road 740. The fire is moving away from the community, according to the government of Alberta. Residents are urged to travel north to Township Road 742 and West onto Highway 733 and register at the Pomeroy Hotel and Conference Centre in Grande Prairie. Everyone should bring pets, important documents, medication, medical devices, food, and water for at least seven days.
A bomb threat reported at San Jose City College on Wednesday evening forced the evacuation of the campus and the cancelation of classes. The San Jose Police Department (SJPD) responded to the call at 5:03 p.m. As of 7 p.m., officers remained on the scene, clearing the campus. The public is advised to avoid the area.
A wildfire burning near Chetwynd, British Columbia, has prompted an evacuation order and a highway closure. Police and firefighters are going door-to-door in the vicinity of the fire, which was discovered around 3:45 p.m. Wednesday. The fire has grown rapidly to 40 hectares in size and has forced the closure of a 10-kilometre stretch of Highway 97 in both directions. Drive BC says the closures start four kilometers away from Chetwynd and end 14 kilometers away. BC Wildfire Service firefighters and aircraft are working to contain the blaze. An evacuation order has been issued for the Pine River area, and an evacuation alert is in place for the Burgess Creek Wildfire.
Residents in northwestern Alberta’s Municipal District of Peace No. 135 have been ordered to evacuate immediately due to the threat of wildfire. The fire covers approximately 250 hectares and is moving rapidly in the Peace River Valley. Evacuees are advised to head east to Grimshaw, Alta., and register at the Royal Canadian Legion. The province is using water bombers and helicopter bucketing to help contain the fire.
