[Anchor]

As regions across the globe suffer from extreme heat, wildfires in Canada are spreading out of control. With the smoke reaching the United States, concerns are growing that it could even impact the upcoming World Cup final.

Gwak Sang-eun reports.

[Reporter]

A train is engulfed in bright red flames.

The fire appears ready to swallow the locomotive and the tracks at any moment.

[Engineer: I need to move this quickly. Oh, my god!]


Wildfires are spreading uncontrollably, primarily in central regions including Ontario and Manitoba, Canada.

As of July 15, local time, there were 835 active wildfires across Canada.

Of these, 112 are considered out of control, exceeding the containment capabilities of authorities.

Experts analyze that nationwide extreme heat is fueling the spread of the fires.

As the wildfire smoke rolled in, the sky over Toronto, Canada's largest city, was blanketed in yellow haze.

At one point, air pollution levels soared to the worst in the world, surpassing Delhi, India.

[Alex Raz/Toronto Resident: The air is so polluted, I don't know what to do. I have an air purifier running constantly at home, and I even have an allergy to smoke.]

This hazardous haze has spread to the United States, including Michigan, Wisconsin, Maine, and Massachusetts, with reports pouring in of the sky turning a yellowish-brown color.

Local media outlets have been flooded with reactions, describing the scene as "like being on Mars" or "eerie."

[Dan Westervelt/Research Professor at Columbia University: On July 16, air quality in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, and Great Lakes regions of the U.S. will deteriorate to 'unhealthy' or 'very unhealthy' levels.]

With forecasts predicting the hazardous haze will persist through the latter part of this week, New York City has advised residents to refrain from outdoor activities.

Concerns are emerging that the World Cup final, scheduled to be held at an outdoor stadium in New Jersey near New York on July 19, could face disruptions.

(Video Editing: Jung Sung-hoon, Design: Kang Yoon-jung, Im Chan-hyuk)