Canada's Landa Biggest Forest Fire, Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Ensures No Indonesian Citizens Become Victims

Photos of archivals - Air photos show forest fires near Downton Lake, southern part of British Columbia, Canada, on July 26, 2023. (ANTARA/Xinhua/HO-BC Wildfire)

JAKARTA - A massive fire engulfed western and northern Canada and tens of thousands of people were forced to flee their homes. A number of provinces in the North American region experienced fires, including Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Yellowknife, Britich Colombia, and Alberta. The fire is known as the biggest fire in Canadian history, the BBC reported on Friday, August 18.

Director of Protection for Indonesian Citizens and BHI Ministry of Foreign Affairs Judha Nugraha ensured that no Indonesian citizens (WNI) were victims of forest fires in Canada.

The Indonesian Consulate General in Vancouver continues to monitor the forest fires that hit several areas in Canada, including Yellowknife and Kelowna. Canadian authorities have also declared an emergency status, Judh said via text message, Saturday.

Based on data from the Indonesian Consulate General in Vancouver, currently 28 Indonesian citizens live in Kelowna, and the majority are students. No Indonesian citizens live in Yellowknife.

In order to anticipate the worsening disaster situation, the Indonesian Consulate General, Indonesian students and the Indonesian people in Kelowna have arranged the evacuation process.

"The evacuation destinations include Wisma Indonesia in Vancouver, the Ecuation Center in Kelowna City, and several other cities around Kelowna," he said.

The Indonesian Embassy in Ottawa, the Indonesian Consulate General in Vancouver, and the Indonesian Consulate General in Toronto, quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, August 19, have issued an appeal to Indonesian citizens to increase vigilance, prepare respiratory protective equipment, follow calls and directions from local authorities.

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also provides a hotline that Indonesian citizens can contact to ask for help.

Indonesian Embassy Hotline Ottawa: [phone]

Indonesian Consulate General's Hotline Vancouver: [phone]

Hotline Of The Indonesian Consulate General In Toronto: [phone]