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.

News from © The Canadian Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

The Canadian Press

The Canadian Press is Canada's trusted news source and leader in providing real-time, bilingual multimedia stories across print, broadcast and digital platforms.