“We’re all tired of the word unprecedented, yet there is no other way to describe this situation,” says Caroline Cochrane, premier of Canada’s Northwest Territories, as wildfires rip through the region. The entire population (20,000 people) of the territory’s capital city, Yellowknife, has been ordered to evacuate as 230 fires, including one that is approximately 600 square miles, move at speed towards the city. According to a local spokesperson, it has been one of the territory’s worst wildfire seasons in history, with 65 per cent of the population affected by evacuations. To make matters worse: Meta began blocking news content on its apps in Canada this month in response to a new law that forces platforms to pay news publishers for content. Meta’s block has made it much harder for wildfire evacuees to check in with loved ones, share updates and find out which roads are safe to travel on.
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