DHAKA: The only land convoy evacuating the Canadian city of Fort McMurray has been disrupted due to 200ft (60m) flames flanking the road.

Quoting officials, BBC reports the matter.

The police-escorted convoy of 1,500 vehicles was due to pass by the southern part of the city but was stopped for an hour.

Parts of the city in the province of Alberta have been destroyed after a huge wildfire struck earlier this week.

Officials had said it would take four days to move all the evacuees.

“We stopped due to heavy smoke,” said Sgt Jack Poitras of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. “You get flames of 100, 200ft up in the air on both sides of the road so it's not safe.”

Tens of thousands of people have already left Fort McMurray, as some predictions are that the fire could double in size by the end of Saturday.

The city is in the heart of Canada's oil producing country and there are fears that oil sand sites could explode.

BDST: 0955 HRS, MAY 07, 2016
SR