Toronto is grappling with ongoing power outages in the aftermath of a severe storm that swept through the city on Wednesday. The storm unleashed heavy rain, strong winds that toppled trees and power lines, and caused localized flooding.
As of Friday morning, Toronto Hydro provided an update indicating that fewer than 2,500 customers are still without power, a significant improvement from the peak of the outage when 65,000 customers were affected. The utility has managed to restore electricity to over 90% of its customers by the following day, with 2,000 customers regaining power by Thursday night.
Describing the storm as one of the most impactful weather events in recent years, Toronto Hydro emphasized the extensive damage caused to trees and the electrical infrastructure. Maintenance crews have been tirelessly working to expedite the restoration process in a safe and efficient manner.
However, the remaining outages are proving to be particularly challenging to address, with crews encountering obstacles such as downed wires, utility poles, power lines, and fallen trees. The complexity of the damage has made repairs laborious and time-consuming, but Toronto Hydro reassured that efforts to restore power are ongoing with a focus on safety.
In light of the ongoing restoration efforts, Toronto Hydro urged residents and drivers to steer clear of active work zones and maintain a distance of at least 10 meters from any fallen power lines, equivalent to the length of a school bus. Additionally, residents were advised to promptly report any electrical hazards by contacting Toronto Hydro at 416-542-8000 (press 1).
