Canada: Heavy Rain Floods Toronto, Causing Power Outages And Traffic Disruptions | WATCH

Heavy rain has caused flash flooding in parts of Canada’s financial center, resulting in power outages, traffic disruptions, and airline service cuts. Dozens of videos circulating online show public spaces submerged in floodwater.

On Tuesday, Toronto responded to scattered outages that it suspected were caused by flooding at a transmission station. At 3 pm (local time), about 123,000 customers were without power, Toronto Hydro, the local power distribution company, said.

Billy Bishop Airport, situated on an island off downtown Toronto, said the underwater pedestrian tunnel leading to the passenger terminal, was flooded and temporarily closed. At least some flights were delayed or canceled.

Several of downtown Toronto’s normally bustling restaurants were darkened, with kitchen workers and waiters gathered outside, chatting and waiting for the lights to come back. With traffic lights out, cars and delivery trucks backed on city streets, snarling some intersections.

Drake Mansion

Canadian rapper Drake shared a video on Instagram showing major flooding at his Toronto mansion during a massive storm that hit the city on Tuesday. The 37-year-old rapper’s clip, filmed from his perspective, shows him wading through his luxury dressing room with water reaching his ankles.

Meanwhile, the Toronto Transit Commission, which operates subway, bus and trolley service, said trains were bypassing Union Station, the city’s main rail terminal. Go Transit, which operates train service to and from Toronto’s suburbs, said the flooding had caused some disruptions.

Parts of the Don Valley Parkway, a major highway running east of downtown, resembled a river soon after the rains began, with images showing cars stalled out in the brownish waters several feet (dozens of cm) deep.

Brandon Rolle, 24 said he was stuck inside his car on the Don Valley Parkway for two hours before the fire service came to rescue him. But his car was still stuck on the flooded highway until it could be towed off, he said. “They’re saying they have to wait until the water recedes,” he said.

The rains stopped around midday, and Environment Canada forecast partly cloudy skies for the rest of Tuesday. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow in a televised briefing said emergency services were not affected by the flooding, but there was some water in parts of the City Hall.

(With Reuters input)