'Looks as if there was never a house there': Ottawa-Gatineau tornado causes mass power outages, 6 in hospital

Two people remained in critical condition in hospital and tens of thousands were still without power Saturday, a day after a tornado ripped through parts of the Ottawa and Gatineau, Que., area.

The two individuals were among six taken to hospital after a twister touched down in Dunrobina rural community in Ottawa's west endwhere multiple homes were severely damaged before it headed eastacross the Ottawa River toward Gatineau Park, according to Environment Canada.

On Saturday morning, Hydro Ottawa reported that 171,462 customers were still without electricity, and more than 80 poles were damaged or torn down.As well,38,909Hydro-Qubeccustomers werewithout power as of 9:22 a.m. ET.

It is unclear when power will be fully restored.Traffic lights werealso out in several spots across Ottawa. They should be treated as a four-way stop.

As of 7 a.m., six people from the Ottawa area had been taken to hospital,according to the Ottawa Hospital. As well as the two in critical condition, one person wasin serious condition, two were stableand one wasin fair condition.

A dozen other minor injuries were reported, according toOttawa'sgeneral manager of emergency services.

Early reports from Gatineau said five people sustained injuries and were taken to hospital, while hundreds were left to seek shelter.

Homes, businessesdamaged

AnthonyDiMontesaid earlier there were reports of 30 to 40 damaged homes in the community, andindications some people could be trapped in buildings.

In these situations, we kind of have to go house to house. Power's down. Communication is problematic. And in a couple of areas, fire [department] is indicating that somepeople are trapped and we're attendingto them," he said.

Di Monte asked people to stay away from the damaged areas.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the people that were affected, and my thanks goes out to the first responders who are doing an amazing job," said Merrilee Fullerton, legislature memberfor Kanata-Carleton.

"I would have to say there are about 20 houses severely affected, probably more," Fullerton said.

She said thatnumber is only based on a quick tour she was given.

Power restoration in Ottawa-Gatineau

The power loss "is not concentrated anywhere. It is just spread across the city, fromKanataall the way toOrleans," saidJosephMuglia, director of distribution operations with Hydro Ottawa.

The power companyis in "damage assessment stage," said Muglia, and there are hopes efforts to restoreservice will start Saturday morning.

'My daughter, she went flying up'

6 years ago

Duration 0:22

James Widder, a resident of the Mont-Bleu neighbourhood in Gatineau, struggled to keep his daughter from flying out of his grasp during the tornado.

"We hope to gain some control of that overnight and certainly by morning we will start to see those numbers come down."

Mugliasaid, however, that the damage is serious nearly as bad as the 1998 ice storm.

"This is the worst storm that we have dealt with in the history of Ottawa ... at least since 1998."

Friday's storm "tracked for quite a significant distance," said PeterKimbell, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada.

"We know for sure that there was a tornado inGatineaubecause we have colleagues of mine who actually saw it."

Based on damage reports, the tornado was likely anEF-2, meaning it had sustained winds of179 to 218 km/h. The tornado caused considerable damage, dozens of roofs were blown offhomes, many trees were snapped or uprooted, andelectrical transmission towers continue to be affected.

'It's devastating, the way it is now'

Local Coun.EliEl-Chantiry, speaking from the corner ofDunrobinand Thomas Dolan roads, said there are at least 20 damaged homes nearby.

"In 30 years,I've never seen anything like this. It's devastating, the way it is now."

He said West Carleton High School, where the Red Cross is setting up,and theDunrobinCommunity Centre areopen toresidents seeking shelter.

El-Chantiry said emergency calls should go to 911, while people seeking other help should call 311. The city has asked people not to tie up those numbers unless the need is urgent.

JudiVarga-Toth, who is running againstEl-Chantiryin the Oct. 22 municipal election, said her home, in the same area,is literally the only onestanding on her street.

"I'm looking at where my next-door neighbour's house is and it looks as if there was never a house there."

Her husband was home when the storm hitand their neighbour was badly hurt, she said. He brought the neighbour's child home when the woman was taken to hospital.

Tornado ravages Dunrobin

7 years ago

Duration 0:27

Damage was extensive in Dunrobin after a tornado swept through eastern Ontario and west Quebec late Friday afternoon.

Varga-Toth was at a local rural fair when,shortly before4:30 p.m., everyone was told to get into the hockey arena or curling club.As the storm passed, arena-goersbegan getting texts about the devastation inDunrobin.

"It was awful," she said.

There were also reports of heavy damage in the Hunt Club andGreenbankRoad areas in south Ottawa, including downed power lines.Kimbell, themeteorologist,saiddamage is likely the result of adownburst another kind of violent wind disturbance,and not thetornado.

The National Capital Commission tweeted out thatGatineauPark would be closed until further notice.

If you have photos of the storm, pleasesend them to us.

Gatineau's Mont-Bleu neighbourhood severely damaged by tornado

7 years ago

Duration 0:20

The tornado that hit eastern Ontario and west Quebec late Friday afternoon caused severe damage in Gatineau.