Extreme weather events

Spreading Creek Wildfire Rips Through Banff National Park

Huffington Post

14 July, 2014

A wildfire straddling the border of Banff National Park is burning faster than officials have seen in years.

Hot temperatures and low humidity and precipitation has caused the so-called Spreading Creek wildfire to rip through 6,800 hectares of land so far — about 2,500 of that in the northeast area of the national park.

The fire, however, is a controlled burn, with 150 firefighters, 12 helicopters and various heavy equipment being used to manage the blaze, according to Alberta 

Environment and Sustainable Resource Development.

Officials told 660 News the fire now covers an area the size of Red Deer.

Alberta Wildfire Information Officer Geoffrey Driscoll says the fire, which is contained, is in an area where they were planning to do a prescribed burn. There is no urgency to put it out, he said.

The blaze, which was sparked by lightning on July 3, has caused several backcountry and highway closures, including intermittent closures the Highway 93 North, also known as the Icefields Parkway.

Parks Canada officials told the Calgary Herald closures on the Icefields Parkway could continue for the next six to eight weeks, but they will aim to keep it open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. when traffic is busiest.

For more information on highway closures, click here.

For more information on campground closures, click here

Check out some of the incredible photos of the blaze:

Heavy rainfall, flooding distress over 1mn in China

RT,

14 July, 2014

Hundreds of thousands have been forced to evacuate with over 1 million people in total affected in China as heavy rainstorms batter Hunan and Guizhou provinces, with reports of several deaths and mass destruction.

Some 720,000 people from 240 townships in Hunan are now affected, the provincial flood control headquarters said on Tuesday, Xinhua reports. At least 460 homes have been destroyed and 149,400 residents have been relocated..

The ancient town of Fenghang was flooded with more than 120,000 locals and tourists evacuated since Monday night. Multiple temporary settlements have been set up to cater for the displaced people. Power supply in the region has also been cut off, prompting the local hydrographical bureau to issue a red alert, at 10:10 am local time.

Rescuers evacuate residents and tourists with a boat on a flooded street of the ancient town as heavy rainfall hit Fenghuang county, Hunan province July 15, 2014 (Reuters / China Daily)

By noon Tuesday, Tuojiang River water levels rose 1.1 meters above the usual 2.5 meters. In addition three big reservoirs nearby also reported warnings with cracks, landslides have blocked several highways and caused delays on train routes. Over 100 soldiers have been dispatched for repair work.

The neighboring Guizhou Province has also been hit with torrential rain, with 14 counties and districts flooded.

Nearly half a million people in Guizhou are now affected. Over 21,000 of them being evacuated. At least five people died in a landslide in Zhijin County.

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A police officer (L) helps an elderly woman evacuate from a flooded street of the ancient town as heavy rainfall hits Fenghuang county, Hunan province July 15, 2014 (Reuters / China Daily)

A street lamp is seen in floodwaters in front of partially submerged buildings by an overflowing river at the ancient town as heavy rainfall hits Fenghuang county, Hunan province July 15, 2014 (Reuters / China Daily)

A man makes his way through a flooded area in Changsha, central China's Hunan province, on July 15, 2014 (AFP Photo)

A woman looks on at a flooded area in Changsha, central China's Hunan province, on July 15, 2014 (AFP Photo)