Children suffer minor injuries, power knocked out as Quebec battered by storm

MONTREAL – Trees were toppled, people were plunged into darkness and a group of children at a summer camp were treated for minor injuries on Friday as severe storms battered southwestern Quebec and the Gatineau region.

Environment Canada issued tornado warnings as the storm brewed Friday afternoon amid another day of staggeringly hot temperatures and humidity.

Strong winds battered several parts of the province in the afternoon as the sun disappeared. About 540,000 people were left without power as of 5 p.m., said Hydro-Quebec.

In Prevost, north of Montreal, a tent set up to protect children from rain at a summer camp collapsed in mid-afternoon, entangling the six- to 12-year-olds.

“The tent collapsed and the children were trapped,” said Gino Pare, a spokesman for Quebec provincial police.

Six children suffered minor injuries.

“They were taken to hospital in St-Jerome and treated for bruises and shock,” Pare said.

Trees were also downed in parts of Montreal.

Hydro-Quebec sent numerous crews to get the power back on.