Montreal has world’s worst air quality as wildfire smoke blankets Quebec

Montreal had the world’s worst air quality Sunday, according to a website that tracks air quality and pollution in major cities across the globe.

Montreal’s air quality index (AQI) was at 226 – labelled very unhealthy – on IQAir’s ranking of 95 cities.

Kuwait City, Kuwait was second with an AQI of 187, followed by Tehran, Iran (169) and Jakarta, Indonesia (151).

There were smog warnings in effect for many parts of Quebec Sunday as heavy smoke from wildfires blanketed much of the southern, northern and western parts of the province.

Montreal, Quebec, Laval, Longueuil and Trois-Rivieres were among the cities under warning due to smoke from the more than 110 wildfires that continue to burn across the province.

Smoggy, smoky air in Montreal due to wildfire smoke June 25, 2023. (Alan Sukonnik/CityNews)

Environment Canada says the poor air quality will likely continue until Monday morning, adding the risk is highest for people with lung or heart disease, elderly people, children, pregnant women and those who work outdoors.

Meanwhile, the 7,500 residents of the northern Quebec municipality of Chibougamau have been warned they may need to evacuate their homes for a second time this month as two out-of-control wildfires gain ground.

Officials issued a Facebook post saying they’re asking residents to stay vigilant and calm in case they have to leave.

Since Thursday, more than 6,000 people have been asked to leave their homes in northwestern Quebec due to heavy smoke from the fires.

Smoggy, smoky air in Montreal due to wildfire smoke June 25, 2023. (Alan Sukonnik/CityNews)

—With files from The Canadian Press