Sandy calms in Canada, thousands still without power in Ontario

Superstorm Sandy has begun to weaken after causing major destruction in the eastern United States and some damage in Canada, although thousands of Ontario and Quebec residents remained without power Tuesday afternoon.

As of 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, 70,000 customers were without power, according to the province’s Emergency Management Office, including 14,000 Toronto Hydro users. About 20,000 people in Quebec were also still without power Tuesday afternoon, according to media reports.

Sandy, which made landfall in New Jersey Monday night, caused some damage, including from fallen trees, in southern Ontario and Quebec following high winds with gusts of up to 100 km per hour in some areas.

There was also heavy rain in southern Ontario and parts of Quebec Monday night, including a report of 55 mm in the Charlevoix area of Quebec. Light rain will continue in Ontario through Wednesday.

There was also a storm surge warning for waves along the St. Lawrence River, but no reported damage from waves or elevated water levels.

There has been one reported death in Toronto related to the storm.