​Wildfires wreak havoc on communities in British Columbia's interior​

Severe forest fires in British Columbia (BC) have led to a state of emergency, displacing 35,000 residents and putting another 30,000 on evacuation alert. Premier David Eby described the situation as "grim," highlighting the urgent need for shelters for evacuees and firefighters. Non-essential travel has been banned to free up temporary accommodation. The fires are centred around Kelowna, 300 kilometres east of Vancouver. This escalation is part of Canada's worst-ever wildfire season, with about 140,000 square km already burned. Dry conditions suggest the fires could persist into the autumn. Key highways linking the Pacific coast to western Canada have been partially closed, disrupting thousands of travellers and cargo transport to Vancouver, the nation's busiest port. Electricity has been cut off for 5,000 customers in BC's interior. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held emergency meetings to allocate "additional resources" to BC and the Northwest Territories, where a separate fire prompted evacuations in Yellowknife. The federal government, along with 13 countries, has sent support. Four firefighters have died. The southern BC fire grew significantly, forcing 2,400 more properties to evacuate. Officials warn that the coming days could be the worst yet for the fire season. BC accounts for over a third of Canada's 1,062 active fires.