The Canadian Press Published Thursday, May 26, 2022 2:47 PM EDT Last Updated on Thursday, May 26, 2022 2:47 PM EDT
The death toll from the devastating storm that ravaged Ontario over the weekend rose to 11 on Thursday, and police reported another death.
The Ontario Provincial Police Central Hastings detachment said a 58-year-old man was hit by a tree that fell in a remote area of Marmora & Lake Township.
Police said officers responded Saturday afternoon and the man was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Nine of the 11 people who died as a result of the storm died Saturday from falling trees, and one-tenth were fatally struck by a tree branch that fell during the aftermath. A woman died in Quebec when her boat capsized.
Environment Canada said Saturday’s severe weather involved a right (a rare widespread windstorm associated with a storm line) that developed near Sarnia, Ontario, and moved northeast through from the province and to Quebec.
Storms have fallen on trees, power lines have fallen and caused significant property damage in some areas.
Tens of thousands of Ontario residents were still without electricity on Thursday as restoration efforts continue.
Hydro One said on Thursday that some 68,800 customers are still in the dark, and those in the Bancroft, Perth and Tweed regions are expected to be without electricity for several days.
Hydro Ottawa said about 45,000 customers are still without electricity, but most are expected to have the service restored by Friday.
Peterborough was the last community in Ontario to declare a state of emergency after Saturday’s storm.
Residents in the area were urged to avoid unnecessary travel to make it easier for emergency services to respond to calls for assistance with fallen trees and power lines.
The communities of Uxbridge, northeast of Toronto, as well as the municipality of Greater Madawaska and Clarence-Rockland also declared states of emergency.