Thousands in British Columbia facing more days without power: BC Hydro

VANCOUVER – Crews continue to repair fallen transformers and restring hydro lines after last week's powerful windstorm in southwestern British Columbia, but officials say some customers will remain without power for several more days.

B.C. Hydro says it has restored power to more than 550,000 customers since the windstorm hit Thursday and about 44,000 customers are still waiting.

Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands were among the hardest hit and hundreds of downed trees have left some roads impassable, which means B.C. Hydro has not been able to complete full damage assessments.

About 4,000 of its customers waiting for power are on the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley and BC Hydro says it could take another three days before power is restored to rural areas.

B.C. Hydro says the windstorm was among the worst in 20 years.

The RCMP say it killed one woman in Duncan when a tree fell on her tent, while it also caused Nanaimo's water treatment plant to break down and destroyed a 30-metre section of White Rock's pier.