Disaster

Cooler weather on Monday will help in firefighters  battle to get the Alberta wildfire under control. The fire, which has destroyed about 620 square miles and has been nicknamed "The Beast", has been burning since May 1 and now has more than 100 water-dropping helicopters flying over it. After expecting the fire to double in size over the weekend, light rains and cooler temperatures helped prevent that from happening.

Earlier today, Canada's Globe and Mail released the following helicopter flyover showing the extent of Fort McMurray destruction in the heart of Canada's oilsands region, in the aftermath of the massive wildfire which continues to spread in Canada's Alberta province and until earlier today was threatening to enter neighboring Saskatchewan province.

The entire population of Fort McMurray in northern Alberta, Canada, were forced to flee a raging wildfire engulfing their city. Dash-cam captures the experience of one driver having to flee with 80,000 other residents as the fire moved from the outskirts into populated neighborhoods on Tuesday. The Mirror reports: The haunting video shows trees engulfed in flame, creating a towering wall of fire as the vehicles carefully edge forward seeking safety.

Since we first reported on the massive fire (and the fallout) that was burning in Canada's oil sands gateway, Fort McMurray, things have gone from bad to worse. Today we learn that the fire that has already devastated 600 square miles, growing an additional 50% in less than 24 hours, is out of control, and could double in size by the end of the day.

The appearance of an oil tanker, washed up and grounded on the shores of Liberia in west Africa with no crew or life boats, remains a mystery and a security concern. The Maritime Executive reports: The ship was abandoned when discovered by local residents, leading to speculation (but no confirmed reports) regarding the crew’s whereabouts. Farbric Radio reports that fishermen had spotted the vessel near the town of Taililor on Monday, and had not seen either crew or lifeboats aboard; the station said that she may have already been abandoned at the time she went aground.