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More than 11,000 Quebec homes still without power after intense ice storm

Hydro-Quebec workers repair power lines in Laval, Que., Wednesday, April 10, 2019, after an ice storm hit the area. Thousands of homes and businesses are still without power. Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press

More than 11,000 homes still have no power as of 3:30 p.m. Thursday after high winds and freezing rain on Monday left ice accumulated on trees and knocked down power lines.

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Hydro-Quebec reports just over 2,900 are in in the Lanaudière region, about 4,000 in the Laurentians and 1,400 in Laval.

READ MORE: Thousands of Quebecers still in the dark after powerful ice storm

Hydro-Quebec points out 96 per cent of homes impacted by the storm Monday have their power back. About 2,000 homes remain that have had no power since Monday.

“The freezing rain we experienced in the last days, which has accumulated as ice on vegetation, has severely affected the power system and resulted in numerous outages in the area,” Hydro-Quebec stated.

“We currently have over 500 crews out working hard and doing their best to restore power as soon as possible.”

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The power utility company says more than 313,000 customers were in the dark at the height of the outage on Monday.

READ MORE: Power still not restored for most homes after freezing rain, snow

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Speaking to reporters in Quebec City on Wednesday, Premier François Legault thanked Hydro-Quebec crews, whom he said worked tirelessly through difficult conditions.

The City of Laval opened up two community centres for residents needing a place to stay warm, charge phones or have a shower.

READ MORE: ‘Don’t risk it’: Laval police urge residents without power to seek shelter

About 130 people stayed at the temporary shelters. Numerous schools were closed in the region due to the lack of electricity.

Louis-Philippe Dorais, a spokesperson for the City of Laval, said Wednesday about 25 residents with symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning reported to the hospital.

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Of them, seven had to receive medical care.

READ MORE: Freezing rain prompts power outages across southern Quebec

Fire officials have also reported 17 fires caused by candles or generators too close to homes.

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