83 Deaths Due To Catastrophic Weather And Increased Risk Levels In Popular Destinations
Since the start of 2026, the Government of Canada has been issuing urgent travel advisories for popular destinations. Recently, Canadian travelers were warned about gender-based imprisonment, clothing bans, and flight disruptions abroad. Over the past week, risk levels for overseas vacation spots have also increased drastically.
The Canadian government has issued stern travel warnings about catastrophic weather in an African safari spot that have resulted in 83 deaths. There are also alerts for fatal wildfires in an award-winning adventure destination and heightened security threats in tourist spots across Europe and Asia. Here is a closer look at Canada’s latest travel advisories.
Canadian Government Warns Travelers Of Deadly Zimbabwe Rains And Chile Wildfires
On Jan. 19, the Canadian government updated its Level 2 (“Exercise a high degree of caution”) travel advisory for Zimbabwe, warning travelers about heavy rainfall that has caused flooding, landslides, infrastructure damage, and 83 deaths, according to local authorities.
Canadians in or planning to visit Zimbabwe during this time are advised to monitor local news, confirm the status of roads in their area, and be aware that the severe weather in Zimbabwe has disrupted the following:
- transportation
- power distribution
- telecommunication networks
Canada’s Level 2 travel advisory for Chile also received an additional warning due to wildfires in its central region, including Ñuble, Biobío, La Araucanía, and O’Higgins. Canadian travelers are advised to stay away from these places, noting that road closures and poor visibility in impacted areas are affecting travel.
Around 18 to 21 people were killed in the wildfires, prompting Chilean President Gabriel Boric to declare a state of catastrophe in Ñuble and Biobío last Sunday. This tragedy comes a month after Chile was declared the World’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination at the World Travel Awards (WTA) for the seventh time in December 2025.
Canada Alerts Travelers On Increased Risk Levels In Nepal, Rwanda, Italy, Qatar, Thailand, And Cambodia
Canada has updated its travel risk levels and security advice for Nepal, Italy, Rwanda, Qatar, Thailand, and Cambodia. The Government of Canada updated its Level 2 travel advisory for Nepal “due to the fragile political and security situation,” along with a warning on violent demonstrations.
On the other hand, Rwanda maintains a safe Level 1 (“Take normal security precautions”) travel advisory, with Level 2 warnings for parts of the Rubavu and Rusizi districts, as well as the Volcanoes National Park (Musanze district) near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Italy, which is also under Canada’s Level 2 travel advisory, has been given a special safety and security warning due to the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympic Winter Games happening in popular spots in northern Italy from February 6–22, and then the Paralympic Winter Games from March 6–15, 2026. Canadian travelers are told to expect increased police presence, large crowds, and disruptions to traffic and movement.
A brief update was made on Qatar’s Level 2 travel advisory, citing that “tensions can flare up suddenly in the Middle East, and lead to travel disruptions, including flight cancellations and airspace closures.”
Lastly, the Canadian Government has updated its Level 2 travel advisories for Cambodia and Thailand to reflect the current situation on the tensions along their shared border. Thai and Cambodian authorities reached a ceasefire agreement on December 27, 2025.
The Canadian government even removed Cambodia’s regional advisory to avoid non-essential travel to the area between 50 and 80 km from the Cambodia-Thailand border. However, Canadian travelers are reminded that security remains “unpredictable” in the region.
Canadian Travelers Advised About Kyrgyzstan’s Updated Entry And Visa Requirements
The Canadian Government’s latest travel advisories also include an important update on Kyrgyzstan‘s visa and entry rules, which state that a tourist visa is not required for Canadians staying up to 30 days within a 60-day period. Kyrgyzstan maintains a low Level 2 travel advisory, with a warning on “possibility of violent crime.”
Located in Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan’s tourism has seen rapid growth in recent years. It is known as an “off-the-beaten-path” destination for Canadians and other international travelers. It is popular among backpackers and adventurers looking for an underrated blend of cultural experiences and stunning natural landscapes.
For those planning to travel to any of these countries, make sure to monitor the Canadian government’s travel advisories, which provide helpful and actionable travel safety tips for each destination.
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