- author, Nadine Yousif
- role, BBC News, Toronto
Record rainfall from three major storms flooded parts of Toronto, knocked out power and stranded drivers on major highways that run through the city.
Environment Canada reported that about 100 millimetres (4 inches) of rain fell in Toronto on Tuesday, beating the city’s one-day rainfall record set in 1941.
Images and videos showed severe flooding across the city, with cars nearly submerged and water cascading down the stairs at Union Station.
Toronto Hydro said more than 167,000 customers lost power as a result of the storm.
Several flights departing from Billy Bishop Airport in the Toronto Islands on Lake Ontario were also delayed or canceled.
The Don Valley Parkway, a major highway that runs alongside the Don River, was closed in both directions due to flooding, and Ontario Highway 410 was also closed, with police saying they did not expect it to reopen for another day while crews worked to clear the road.
Authorities said they rescued at least 14 people, including one who was rescued from the roof of a car.
Toronto Fire Department received numerous calls of people trapped in elevators during shifts after a widespread power outage in the city centre.
Meteorologists said Tuesday’s record rainfall was due to three storms that hit the city.
“A combination of thunderstorms and high pressure moving through caused 25 percent more rain to fall in three hours than would normally occur in the whole of July,” meteorologist Dave Phillips told local news station CP24.
The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority warned that areas near the city’s coastline, rivers and streams are at particular risk of flooding. Toronto has more than a dozen rivers and streams that are vulnerable to rising water levels.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said she didn’t know why the flood-prone Don Valley Parkway wasn’t closed that day.
He added that the city is “investing heavily” in cleanup efforts to prevent similar flooding in the future.
Toronto was hit by a severe and costly storm in July 2013 that left at least 300,000 people without power and more than 1,000 passengers needing rescue from flooded trains.
