A widespread power outage is currently affecting Toronto’s downtown core, and officials say it may have been caused by a large crane hitting a high-voltage transmission line.
Several blocks in the area of Yonge and Dundas streets, including Yonge-Dundas Square itself, lost power shortly after 12:30 p.m. Thursday.
The large screens that usually display advertisements in the area are also down.
Several blocks of downtown Toronto are without power after a massive outage on Thursday, August 11, 2022.
Other areas affected by the outage include the Eaton Centre, Toronto Police Headquarters and St. Lawrence.
Toronto Transportation Services said the outage spans at least a four-block radius.
Toronto Hydro’s outage map shows areas within College Street to Gardiner Expressway and between Bayview Extension and University Avenue are without power, with up to 10,000 customers currently affected.
This image shows a map showing power outages in Toronto. (Toronto Hydro)
Toronto police and Hydro One said they are also aware of the outages.
Police remind drivers in the area to treat any intersection without traffic lights as a four-way stop. Trams in the area are also facing disruption, which is contributing to localized traffic problems.
The elevators in the area are also affected. In a tweet released Thursday afternoon, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said he is currently stuck in the elevator shaft of a downtown Toronto building.
“Still in here. Terrible time,” he said alongside a picture of inside the lift.
Toronto Fire said it is responding to a number of listed elevator rescues in the city’s core.
Additionally, the utility says wires are down at Bouchette and Commissioners streets in the city’s Port Lands neighborhood.
Toronto Hydro said a large crane in the area had hit a high-voltage transmission line, although it’s unclear if that was the cause of the outage.
This picture shows a crane on a barge in Toronto’s Port Lands neighborhood that struck a high-voltage transmission line on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022.
Toronto Hydro said it is unclear when power will be restored.
POWER OUTAGE: Downtown Core: Toronto police are aware of a power outage affecting the downtown core. This time the cause of the blackout is unknown. Remember to treat intersections as a 4-way stop if the lights are out@TorontoHydro is aware^lb
— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) August 11, 2022
This is a developing story. More to come.