Due to the danger of the nearby forest fires, a state of emergency was declared in Sept-Îles on Friday.
• Also read: Wildfires: Quebec bans access to forests in seven regions
Part of the community is evacuated and shelters are set up in Port-Cartier.
Evacuations in the Lac Daigle sector are already underway, the authorities said at a press conference on Friday morning.
Screenshot | VAT News
All sectors east of downtown, including the Plages and Moisie sectors, must be evacuated before 4 p.m.
An emergency shelter has been opened at the L’abri de Port-Cartier educational center for people who cannot stay with family or friends.
“We continue to follow developments hour by hour,” said Sept-Îles Mayor Steve Beaupré. Other measures could also be announced later in the day, the whole thing being evolutionary.
Two fires are threatening the community, including a particularly imposing one ten kilometers north of the city and another smaller but closer to urban areas.
According to Minister Bonnardel, who commented on the situation in Quebec, about 10,000 people will be evacuated to Sept-Îles.
For his part, Prime Minister François Legault, in a post on Twitter, urged Quebecers to “follow the instructions”.
❗️Important. Please follow the instructions ❗️
My condolences to the people affected by the wildfires across Quebec. Many thanks to the forest fire brigade for their commitment and thanks to the population for following the instructions of the authorities. pic.twitter.com/l9uYc5euVW— Francois Legault (@francoislegault) June 2, 2023
A resident information line has also been set up at 418-964-3371.