Smoke from Canadian wildfires in Ontario blankets Toronto, causing the city to have the world's worst air quality, while smoke spreads into the northeastern United States, forcing evacuations in vulnerable areas.
On 16 July 2026, Toronto, Canada, faced the worst air quality worldwide after smoke from wildfires in northwestern Ontario spread widely, crossing borders into several northeastern U.S. states, prompting health warnings. Although this year’s wildfire season in Canada is less severe than in previous years, more than 800 wildfires remain active nationwide.
The Canadian Environment Agency reported that Toronto’s Air Quality Health Index stands at 10+, categorized as "very high risk," and predicted that hazardous air conditions may continue through Thursday night.
Meanwhile, IQAir, a Swiss air quality monitoring expert, ranked Toronto as having the worst air quality in the world, surpassing Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo and New Delhi, India. Experts attributed the main cause to wildfire smoke, with above-average temperatures further intensifying air pollution.
The Canadian National Railway disclosed that it has evacuated staff and residents in Armstrong, Ontario, and temporarily halted train services in the area due to wildfires approaching railway lines. A video shared on social media shows a train moving through flames, an image widely circulated online.
Source: Aljazeera