'Like a bomb went off': Wildfire forces 18,000 to evacuate in western Canada

A fast-moving wildfire in western Canada has prompted evacuation orders for about 18,000 residents.

The New York Times reported Saturday that provincial authorities issued the evacuation orders as the fire spread rapidly through the region.

British Columbia Premier David Eby said the situation was "extremely dangerous and changing by the minute," adding that the flames were "moving incredibly fast."

Within a single day, the fire burned through 25,000 acres (about 101 square kilometers) — more than 30 times the size of Yeouido. Flames were reported to have reached about 60 meters at one point.

Eby described the scene as looking "like a bomb went off."

British Columbia, which has declared a state of emergency, is currently battling 105 simultaneous wildfires.

Authorities deployed more than 2,000 firefighters and structural protection personnel to combat the blazes. The extent of building damage and whether any injuries have occurred have not yet been confirmed.

The fires also knocked out power to Summerland, a community about 420 kilometers east of Vancouver, British Columbia's largest city.

Authorities warned that conditions could deteriorate further over the coming days, with weather expected to worsen as well.