Lytton On Fire: Town In Canada Which Recorded 49.6°C Temperature Burns Down Due To Wildfires

A wildfire has burned 90 per cent of the village that recorded Canada's highest ever temperature, reported BBC. Brad Vis, a local MP, told the BBC that the fire had caused extensive damage to Lytton, in British Columbia, and to surrounding critical infrastructure. Jan Polderman, mayor of Lytton, told the BBC he had been "lucky to get out with my own life.” Polderman told the BBC's Newshour programme his town was engulfed by a "wall of fire". He had earlier ordered people to evacuate, saying flames had spread through the village in just 15 minutes. The village this week recorded the country's highest ever temperature of 49.6C (121.3F).

British Columbia, in western Canada, recorded 486 deaths over five days compared with an average of 165 in normal times, reported BBC. Lytton residents fled, many without their belongings, as smoke and flame engulfed the village, which is home to about 250 people and located about 260km (162 miles) north-east of Vancouver. “Within about 15 minutes the whole town was engulfed in flame," Mayor Polderman told the BBC. Watch the video to know more.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 02, 2021 10:37 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).