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US and Canada storms spell cold, dark Christmas for many | |
(about 17 hours later) | |
Hundreds of thousands of households in Canada and the northern US are facing a Christmas without electricity after a severe ice storm. | |
Nearly 400,000 customers in eastern Canada and 390,000 in the US are still without power, with Michigan worst hit. | |
In Toronto, a utility has said power may not be restored for most residents until Thursday, and that some may be without electricity until the weekend. | |
The city has opened several warming centres for those without power. | |
Temperatures as low as -15C are expected in southern Canada over the next few days. Five people have died in accidents on ice-covered Canadian roads. | |
At least 11 deaths have been blamed on the storm system in North America, including five people killed in flooding in Kentucky. | |
Up to 30mm (1.2in) of ice built up on trees and other surfaces in the greater Toronto area during the storm on Sunday. | |
Sheets of ice fell from buildings and moving vehicles, Canadian TV channel CBC said. | Sheets of ice fell from buildings and moving vehicles, Canadian TV channel CBC said. |
Via Rail warned customers travelling between Toronto and Montreal, Ottawa and New York to expect delays on Tuesday. | |
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford resisted declaring a state of emergency, but said getting electricity to hospitals and community housing should be a priority. | Toronto Mayor Rob Ford resisted declaring a state of emergency, but said getting electricity to hospitals and community housing should be a priority. |
He called the storm one of the worst in Toronto's history. | |
More than 100,000 customers had power restored in the city, but about 190,000 customers are still without power, he said. | |
Another 80,000 customers were without power in wider Ontario as well as about 34,000 in Quebec, 49,000 in New Brunswick and another 6,600 in Nova Scotia. | |
Toronto Hydro chief Anthony Haines said some customers might not get power back until 26 December. | |
Environment Canada meteorologist David Phillips warned that the ice would remain as temperatures stayed below freezing. | |
"There's no natural melting going on," he said. "It's going to be human effort and endeavour that will get rid of the sheath of ice that's covering eastern Canada." | |
Flights were delayed or cancelled because of the storm in the US and Canada at one of the busiest travel periods of the year. | |
More than 390,000 people were also left without power in the northern US, including upstate New York, Michigan and Maine. | |
A spokesman for one of the Michigan electricity firms told the Detroit Free Press it could be the end of the week before power is restored. | A spokesman for one of the Michigan electricity firms told the Detroit Free Press it could be the end of the week before power is restored. |
The US National Weather Service is warning of very cold winds (-5 to -10C) and is advising people to stay indoors. | |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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