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“I just saw a wall of wind and water coming towards us.”
This house on Waterloo and Hyman streets near central London suffered severe damage when two trees fell apart during Saturday’s storm. Photo taken on Sunday, May 22, 2022 by Mike Hanson / The London Free Press
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Nearly 2,500 Londoners were left without electricity on Sunday morning after a severe storm swept through southwestern Ontario the day before – and it could be another 24 hours before the service is fully restored, London Hydro said.
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The massive eclipse – which at one point affected 32,000 people in the city – was the result of torrential rains and strong winds that hit London shortly before noon on Saturday, a storm that knocked down trees and power lines.
By noon on Sunday, there were still 60 breaks in London.
The most affected area appears to be the Old East Village, according to the London Hydro Interruption Map, but neighborhoods such as Lambeth, Oakridge, South London and Glen Cairn also had no electricity pockets.
Map of London Hydro on power outages at 12:30 on Sunday, May 22, 2022.
Ivan Reed, who lives on the corner of Elias and Elizabeth streets, described a chaotic scene when strong winds swept his street and damaged several trees in a matter of seconds on Saturday.
“We just stood there watching the clouds come because everything was black, and a little while later I just felt a drop and then I just saw a wall of wind and water coming towards us,” he said.
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“The wind continued, I would say, maybe around. . . five minutes, but as soon as the wind blew, the damage was done in less than 30 seconds.
Reed said he and several neighbors left after the storm passed and used axes, machetes and whatever we could to clear the intersection of Elias and Elizabeth Streets, which was blocked by tree branches and debris. .
“Honestly, it was scary, but luckily everyone was good,” he said.
Alma Oud, who lives on Maitland Street, was out with her husband on Sunday morning to investigate some of the damage caused by the storm, including a century-old home on the corner of Hyman and Waterloo streets, whose porch was damaged by a falling tree.
“The storm was much faster than I expected it to be (but somehow we felt like the epicenter when you saw the extent of the damage,” she said. “I know it was more common, but yes, I’m surprised by the amount of damage.”
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All available London Hydro crews are working around the clock to restore service, said spokeswoman Nancy Hutton. She also reminded residents to stay away from broken power lines.
London Hydro teams were still working on Sunday morning to clean up the damage caused by a storm that broke out in London on Saturday afternoon. Photo taken on Sunday, May 22, 2022 by Mike Hanson / The London Free Press
Elsewhere in Ontario, authorities reported several deaths as a result of the storm:
- The OPP reported that one person was killed and two others were injured when a tree fell on a camping trailer near Pinehurst Lake southeast of London, near the city of Ayr.
- Gatineau police say a 51-year-old woman died when the boat she was on capsized in the Ottawa River near Mason-Angers, Que. during the sabbath storm.
- Ontario provincial police say a 44-year-old man was killed in Greater Madawasca, west of Ottawa, after he was reportedly hit by a falling tree, while Ottawa police said a man died in the western part of the city. but no one has released any additional details.
- Peel Regional Police say a 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree while walking in Brampton, west of Toronto.
- The city of Uxbridge, Ont. declared a local state of emergency after the storm caused significant damage to the community.
In the London borough Environment Canada is calling for gloomy skies on Sunday, but sunshine and a high 17 C for the festive Monday.
With Canadian Press files
jjuha@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/JuhaatLFPress
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