Mayor says clean-up after major storm in Toronto could take several hours

The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) was hit with a severe thunderstorm on Tuesday morning, causing major flooding in many areas and leading to several water rescues by the Toronto fire department. Power was knocked out to over 167,000 Toronto Hydro customers, but Mayor Olivia Chow stated that power was slowly being restored by Tuesday evening. Despite the challenges, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) was still operating, with some flooding reported in the Union Station area.

Toronto City Manager Paul Johnson noted that a number of road closures remained in place as of early Tuesday evening, with clean-up efforts from the storm expected to take several hours. This means that several roadways will remain closed until they can be cleared of debris and floodwater. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) reported extensive flooding on the Hwy 410 Southbound ramp to Hwy 401, further complicating travel in the area.

As residents and officials work to clean up after the severe storm, it is clear that the effects of the flooding will be felt for some time. The GTA will need to come together to address the aftermath of the storm and ensure that the city can recover as quickly as possible. Stay tuned for further updates on the situation in Toronto as the clean-up efforts continue.