Flash floods cause transit chaos, blackouts across Toronto region

TORONTO – It was unclear if the Toronto subway system would be in full operation Tuesday morning after an evening of traffic chaos and widespread power outages throughout the city due to a torrential rainfall.

Hydro One said that of about 300,000 people affected, only about 30,000-40,000 had their power restored as of midnight due to “significant flooding” at two of its transmission stations.

Toronto Hydro said about 35,000 of its customers were still without electricity as of about 3 a.m., primarily in the west end of the city. The utility could not say when it expected full power to be restored.

The downpour left underpasses and many basements flooded and a number of people trapped in vehicles — some with water up to their vehicle windows.

About 1,400 people were caught by the flooding aboard a northbound GO Transit train (at Bayview and Pottery Rd.) and it took police and firefighters about seven hours to ferry everyone to dry ground aboard small inflatable boats. The operation ended at about 12:30 a.m. and authorities say five or six people were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Go Transit said the storm left portions of track “completely under water“‘on its Milton, Richmond Hill and Lakeshore West lines and suggested passengers seek alternative ways to travel Tuesday morning.

Toronto’s subway service was temporarily halted Monday evening and TTC CEO Andy Byford said he wasn’t sure if subways would be in full operation by the morning rush hour.

The north-south Don Valley Parkway remained closed in both directions from the Gardiner Expressway north to Bayview Avenue as of early this morning.