Short, intense storm causes power outages and property damage across Toronto

Toronto officials say they are responding to many calls for reports of damage after a storm system blew through the city Wednesday afternoon.

A City of Toronto spokesperson told Global News Wednesday evening that a bulk of the calls for trees down are in the southern part of Toronto.

Toronto Hydro said approximately 9,000 customers in areas scattered throughout the city were without power as of 10 p.m. In an update, officials said crews are working to have service restored to 90 per cent of those affected.

A Hydro One spokesperson told Global News more than 46,000 of its customers lost power as of late Wednesday afternoon. The hardest hit areas are in central Ontario.

Police and paramedics were called to the Avenue Road and Edmund Avenue area after a hydro pole fell on a vehicle. The occupants were later pulled out of the vehicle without injuries.

Toronto Fire Services Chief Matthew Pegg said in an update on Twitter that firefighters were dealing with a higher than normal amount of calls. He encouraged people to stay at least 10 metres back from downed power lines.

At the Toronto Eaton Centre, people posted images of water pouring into the mall.

A spokeswoman for mall operator Cadillac Fairview said a water leak, believed to have been caused by the rain, started on the third level of the shopping centre at about 4:30 p.m. and flowed down to the lower levels.

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Michele Enhaynes said the source of the leak has been found and part of the mall is closed off, affecting some stores.

“The shopping mall is operational but there a few retail clients closed for the evening including Ted Baker, Guess, Marciano and Massimo Dutti,” Enhaynes said in an email.

There were also multiple posts showing water ponding on local roads.

Toronto was under a severe thunderstorm warning for part of Wednesday afternoon.

Anyone who comes across downed trees or wires is asked to call the City of Toronto’s 311 line, or 911 if it’s an emergency.

— With files from The Canadian Press