Latest news with #evacuation
CTV News
27 minutes ago
- General
- CTV News
‘Very serious gas leak' averted, blocks from 2019 Woodman Ave. explosion
A police cruiser guides an access point along Central Avenue near the site of a gas leak that resulted in an evacuation on June 19, 2025. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London) Old East Village (OEV) residents are breathing a sigh of relief after what fire officials dubbed 'a very serious gas leak' was brought under control Thursday afternoon. Two dozen London firefighters responded to the 800 block of Central Avenue, between Ontario and English, around 11:30 a.m. Platoon Chief Gary Mosburger told CTV News London that a main gas line was accidentally struck during ongoing road construction. Residents in the area were told to leave. 'We began an evacuation of anybody that was close by, as well as establishing hose lines in place to ensure the safety of our people here,' he said. Efforts to shut down the line initially failed, resulting in preparations for a wider evacuation, including sending out notifications to residents using the Alert London system. Gary Mosburger Platoon Chief Gary Mosburger is seen moments after the 'all clear' was given following a gas leak on Central Avenue on June 19, 2025. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London) Thankfully, the actions were not needed. Shortly after 12:30 p.m., Enbridge Gas shut down the line using remote technology. No one was injured. The incident occurred just a few blocks west of the 2019 Woodman Avenue gas explosion that destroyed three homes and left the OEV community and emergency responders scarred. 'Woodman Avenue is not that far in our in our memory,' said Mosburger. 'Obviously, bad things can happen in this case. We learned a lot from that incident. And, of course, today the quick action by London fire crews, by Enbridge Gas and everybody here on the scene created a positive result.'
Fox News
28 minutes ago
- Politics
- Fox News
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee indicates US is working to offer evacuation options
Print Close By Alex Nitzberg Published June 19, 2025 As hostilities continue to rage between Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran, U.S. Ambassador to the Jewish state Mike Huckabee has indicated work is underway to provide options for Americans who want to evacuate. "American Citizens wanting to evacuate Israel: Sign up at to be on list. We're working to get military, commercial, charter flights & cruise ships for evac. If you're offered a seat, take it. Family in Israel? Tell them stay close to shelter & don't ignore sirens!" Huckabee noted in a post on X. Like prior notices in recent days, the U.S. Embassy in Israel noted in a June 19 security alert it is directing all U.S. government employees and their families to keep sheltering in place. "We will alert the U.S. citizen community if there is additional information to share regarding departure options," the notice states. "If you are a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident currently in Israel or the West Bank and seeking U.S. government assistance to depart, please complete this form so the Department of State can better assist you and provide you with timely updates: 1,500 JEWISH AMERICANS EVACUATED FROM ISRAEL AS DESANTIS SPONSORS RESCUE FLIGHTS TO TAMPA The notice explained that, in the event the government provides assistance to Americans seeking to leave Israel, travelers would be expected to repay Uncle Sam but would not be required to pay up front before departing Israel. "If the U.S. government provides departure assistance from Israel, options would most likely include travel to a nearby, safe country. We do not provide direct travel to the United States. You will be responsible for your onward travel after arriving in the nearby, safe country. Consular officers will be available to assist you on arrival with consular services, including a loan to repatriate to the United States if you wish to do so and qualify," the notice explains. "If the U.S. government provides departure assistance from Israel, you do not need to pay before you board, but you will be expected to sign a promissory note to repay the U.S. government. We will tell you the estimated amount you will be expected to repay before you travel. Pets cannot accompany you," it also notes. Another security alert issued Thursday noted, "The Department of State is always planning for contingencies to assist with private U.S. citizens' departure from crisis areas. We will alert the U.S. citizen community if there is additional information to share regarding departure options. U.S. citizens should enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive the latest updates." US EMBASSY IN ISRAEL TELLS GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, FAMILIES TO SHELTER IN PLACE AMID IRAN STRIKES CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP President Donald Trump has not ruled out the possibility of American military intervention to help Israel stamp out Iranian efforts to develop nuclear weapons. "AMERICA FIRST means many GREAT things, including the fact that, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!" he declared in a Truth Social post Monday. Print Close URL
CBC
2 hours ago
- Climate
- CBC
Manitoba looks to move Thompson evacuees elsewhere amid struggle for hotel space, minister says
Manitoba is looking at moving more than 100 wildfire evacuees from the northern city of Thompson to another part of the province, as it struggles to find enough hotel space for everyone forced out of their homes this spring. As of Thursday, about 114 people were still living in the evacuation centre in that city, including some who had been there for close to three weeks, Lisa Naylor, the minister responsible for Manitoba's Emergency Management Organization, said at a news conference. "It is provincial policy for people not to stay in congregate shelters. And we have worked really hard, but because we can't find rooms in the area we are looking at moving people to a different location in Manitoba," Naylor said. "That's going to be sorted out over the next probably 24 to 48 hours. Folks have been there a really long time, and that was never the intention." Those evacuees are among more than 22,000 people forced out of their homes this spring by wildfires, in what Naylor described as one of the largest evacuations in the province's history. People from 14 Manitoba communities are still evacuated from their homes as wildfires continue to burn across the province, said Christine Stevens, assistant deputy minister of the Manitoba Emergency Management Organization. While evacuees from some areas have started to go home, Stevens said there are a number of elements local officials have to make sure are in place before that happens everywhere, including the return of medical staff and law enforcement, and the reopening of schools, grocery stores and gas stations. As of Thursday, there are 21 wildfires burning across Manitoba, including seven deemed out of control, said Kristin Hayward, assistant deputy minister of the Conservation Officer Service and the Manitoba Wildfire Service. The province overall is at a moderate to high fire danger — and while there are pockets where rain has helped, officials are also anticipating more possible fire starts caused by recent and forecast thunderstorms, Hayward said. Updates on out-of-control fires Hayward also gave updates on a number of out-of-control fires burning near communities across Manitoba, including two in northwestern Manitoba near the city of Flin Flon. One of those fires is now about 7,200 hectares on the Manitoba side of the border, while the other is over 370,000 hectares and still very active after recent rain dried up — though Hayward said crews are still making steady progress in the area immediately around Flin Flon. Another out-of-control fire in eastern Manitoba, in the area of Nopiming Provincial Park, is over 218,000 hectares. Hayward said while that blaze continues to burn actively on its north and west sides, residents in some other areas nearby were able to return home recently, as crews have gotten good control on those sections of the fire. Good progress is being made on an out-of-control fire that's now over 21,500 hectares in the Split Lake area, northeast of Thompson, while another in the Lynn lake region is over 71,000 hectares, with the north half actively burning but the south part, closer to the community, looking better, she said. Another blaze in the Cross Lake area that's about 64,000 hectares has been stable, meaning it's not growing significantly over time, Hayward said. Meanwhile, two other fires in western Manitoba have had their status change, with one near Wanless deemed under control and another close to Grand Rapids being held, she said. 'Could get worse from here, I won't sugarcoat it' As for what the rest of the summer may hold for wildfires in Manitoba, that's more difficult to predict, Hayward said. "I wish I had a crystal ball, as I usually say," she said, adding what's clear is the long-term forecast shows prolonged periods of warmer than average temperatures and a possibility of lower than normal precipitation. "We're coming into a season where we see a lot of thunderstorms and a lot of lighting passing through. So, you know, things could get worse from here, I won't sugarcoat it — but hopefully they don't." WATCH | Thursday's Manitoba wildfire update: Manitoba wildfire update 43 minutes ago Duration 22:47 Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor gives an update on the wildfires burning across Manitoba, alongside Kristin Hayward, assistant deputy minister of the Conservation Officer Service and the Manitoba Wildfire Service, and Christine Stevens, assistant deputy minister of the Manitoba Emergency Management Organization. To date, the province has recorded 124 fires this spring — above the 20-year average of 118 for this time of year, she said. The total area burned in Manitoba this year is now over 902,000 hectares. The province now has 297 people from outside Manitoba helping with the wildfire effort, including some from Newfoundland and Labrador and from Parks Canada. Most are from U.S. federal and state agencies, including firefighters from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, Hayward said.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
Fire crews responding to major structure fire in New Liskeard
Members of the public are being asked to avoid Lakeshore Road in New Liskeard as emergency responders deal with a major structure fire Thursday afternoon. Members of the public are asked to avoid Lakeshore Road in New Liskeard as emergency responders deal with a major structure fire Thursday afternoon. Residents who are near the fire are being asked to leave the area. 'The road is closed between Padget Street South, Market Street, Dymond Crescent and Farah Avenue,' Ontario Provincial Police said on social media. 'OPP is asking the public to avoid the area and for those in the immediate vicinity to evacuate.' The City of Temiskaming Shores is also urging residents to give 'space needed to ensure the safety of our volunteer firefighters, emergency responders and the public.' 'Road blocks are being set up,' the city said on Facebook. Road blocks are going up at Melville, Market and Farah streets, the city said. Three transit stops are being affected by the fire. Riders are being asked to go to the nearest bus stop outside areas near Melville and Farah. This story will be updated as more information comes available.
Arab News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan says 3,000 evacuated from Iran as stranded students plead for help
ISLAMABAD: The foreign office said on Thursday about 3,000 Pakistani nationals have been evacuated from Iran following the Israeli attack, adding the country's diplomatic mission is working to facilitate stranded students seeking urgent evacuation. A week of Israeli air and missile strikes, which began on June 13, has led to the killing of many of Iran's top-ranking military officials and ordinary people. In response, Tehran's retaliatory strikes have also killed about two dozen civilians in Israel. Following Friday's escalation, Iran closed its airspace to commercial flights, stranding hundreds of expatriates, including Pakistani religious tourists, students and workers. 'The evacuation is moving smoothly and so far, nearly 3,000 Pakistani nationals have already been evacuated,' foreign office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan told reporters in his weekly media briefing. 'Our consulates in Zahedan and Mashhad have been active round the clock, extending all possible facilitation and support to our nationals who are in Iran,' he said, expressing gratitude to the Iranian authorities for their sensitivity and all possible facilitation and help extended in this process. Khan said the Pakistani mission was using multiple routes to evacuate citizens, including via the Gabr and Taftan border crossings, through Ashgabat, Baku and even Baghdad, through special flights. 'It's an ongoing process as there are logistical challenges at times, but we are working together with the Iranian authorities to resolve them if a problem arises,' he added. The spokesperson said there is a sizeable Pakistani community in Iran, with many of them living in the neighboring state for years with their families after marrying local people. STRANDED STUDENTS Speaking to Arab News from various cities across Iran, Pakistani students expressed serious concerns about their safety and appealed for immediate evacuation. 'I have been stranded here since the suspension of flight operations due to the regional tensions,' Muhammad Hussain, a Pakistani medical student at Qom University of Medical Sciences, told Arab News over the phone. 'The situation is becoming more tense, we are now hearing continuous explosions, which has increased our concern for safety,' he said, adding that he tried to reach out to the Pakistan embassy as well who asked him to travel to the Chabahar border. 'I am unable to get any means to go there,' he said, urging the Pakistan government and the embassy to arrange special transport to take them to border. 'Our families are extremely worried, and we just want to go back,' he added. Noman Khan, an MBBS student in Urmia, a city in Iran's Azerbaijan province, said he was part of a group of Pakistani students, including 10 girls, awaiting repatriation amid the ongoing situation. 'We contacted the embassy to evacuate us and, about two days ago, they asked us to book a bus ourselves, promising to send the payment,' he informed, adding that even after more than 60 hours, they were still waiting for the payment without which they were unable to get transport to cross border. 'We have female students with us as well who are also scared as nearby cities were also hit by missiles,' he continued. 'Our city is about two hours away from Tabriz and almost two to three drones were shot down in our city as well.' Saman Yunus, another medical student at Iran University of Medical Sciences, said that due to the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, they had been traveling for the past four days. 'The Pakistani Embassy advised us that it would be safer to go to the Chabahar border and assured us that any issues related to accommodation or other needs would be resolved within minutes,' she told Arab News. However, she said the biggest problem they faced was that the border was not open 24/7 and there was no accommodation available. 'As a result, we had to spend the entire night on the roadside and we contacted both our university and the embassy, but no help was provided,' she continued, adding they were now heading to Pakistani consulate in Zahedan, hoping they would facilitate a safe border crossing. 'A representative there has assured us that they will handle it as soon as possible and ensure we safely cross border,' she added.
