TORONTO, May 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from powerful thunderstorms in Canada’s two most populous provinces this weekend rose to at least eight, authorities said, as emergency crews continued a massive clean-up to restore power to half a million people.
The storms, which lasted more than two hours Saturday afternoon and packed the power of a tornado, left a trail of destruction in parts of Ontario and Quebec. Wind gusts as strong as 132kmh felled trees, uprooted electric poles and toppled many metal transmission towers, utility companies said.
Electricity companies were scrambling on Sunday to restore transmission lines. Most of the deaths from the storms occurred when people were hit by falling trees, authorities said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government was ready to help those in need. “We’re thinking of everyone affected, and thanking the crews who are working to restore power,” Trudeau tweeted.
Hydro One, Ontario’s biggest electricity distribution company, said in a tweet on Sunday that crews are responding to significant damage. Environment Canada had issued mobile alerts warning of the severe thunderstorms.
Hydro Quebec and Hydro One said they were mobilising crews after as many as 550,000 and 351,000 clients, respectively, were left without electricity, the companies said in separate statements.
Hydro One said it anticipates it will take “several days” to restore power to all customers, while Hydro Quebec declined to provide a time frame “due to the large number of locations” affected.
Ontario is home to nearly 40 per cent of Canada’s 38.2 million population.
Emergency operations have been activated to assess the damage and threats on the ground, said Jim Watson, Mayor of Ottawa, Canada’s capital city.
Environment Canada, which issued mobile alert warning of the severe thunderstorms, said wind gusts of 132kmh were measured at the peak in some parts.
Residents took to social media to post images of the trail of the destruction by the dangerous storm, which lasted more than two hours. — NNN-AGENCIES