The world at a glance . . . Americas

Toronto

Gas explosion: Thousands of people fled Canada’s largest city this week after a propane plant exploded in a massive fire. One firefighter died in the blaze. More than 12,000 Torontonians were evacuated for several days because of fears of toxic smoke, and parts of Canada’s busiest highway were shut down. “It was just a tremendous explosion and blew all the windows out of the house, just blew the house up, and I just managed to get out of there in time,” said resident Robert Helman. Toronto Mayor David Miller said he was investigating why the propane facility was allowed to be built near a residential area. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the explosion.

Ciudad Acuña, Mexico

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No gas for gringos: Mexico has begun fining Americans who cross the border to buy cheap Mexican gas. The Mexican government subsidizes diesel, so it costs just $2.25 a gallon, about half what it costs north of the border. American truckers are allowed to fill their own tanks, but they may not load up extra barrels with fuel for export to the U.S. The city of Acuña, across the border from Del Rio, Texas, said it had caught four Americans filling barrels with diesel and would charge them a fine of 70 percent of the price of the fuel.

Rio de Janeiro

Appeal for the Amazon: Brazil last week asked the world’s rich nations to contribute $21 billion to help Brazil protect the Amazon rain forest. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he was launching an international fund to raise money to finance conservation and sustainable development. “We are conscious of what the Amazon represents for the world,” Lula said. “It’s better for the country’s image to do things right, so we can walk in international forums with our heads high.” Environmentalists have criticized Brazil for rampant deforestation; more than 10,000 square miles of rain forest were lost in 2004 alone. So far, Norway is the only country that has pledged a donation, putting up $100 million.

La Paz, Bolivia

A Morales victory: Bolivian President Evo Morales won a resounding victory this week in a referendum on whether he should remain in office. Early results put his support at 60 percent, higher than the 54 percent he received in the 2005 presidential election. Still, Bolivian politics remain muddled, as Morales’ biggest opponents, governors of four eastern regions, were also endorsed by large margins in the referendum. The results show that the country is split between the indigenous poor of the west, who support Morales, and the middle class of the gas-rich east, who oppose his Socialist rule. Morales is trying to push through a new constitution that would increase the state’s role in the economy, strengthen presidential powers, and weaken the judiciary.