Lytton’s mayor: ‘Where many buildings stood is now simply charred earth’

What has not been melted, incinerated or damaged beyond repair has been compromised to the point of being unsafe

• We are republishing in its entirety the open letter written by the mayor of Lytton after the village was destroyed by wildfire

On 29 June, the small village of Lytton, in Canada, became one of hottest places on Earth. Temperatures reached an astounding 49.6C (121.3F). The next day, a wild fire destroyed most of the town. In this open letter, the mayor of Lytton describes the situation on the ground.

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