Damage 'simply beyond comprehension': Ferocious derecho sweeps across eastern Canada killing 10 people

More than a million customers lost power during the severe weather on Saturday

A ferocious damaging-wind event called a derecho swept through eastern Canada on Saturday, killing at least 10 people and knocking out power to more than a million customers.

Some of the hardest-hit areas were found in Ontario and Quebec, where Tornado Watches and Severe Thunderstorm Warnings had been issued.

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According to Environment Canada, there have been at least 10 fatalities reported as a result of the strong winds with this line of thunderstorms. There was also extensive damage to trees, power lines and buildings. Additionally, there were overturned cars reported, as well as widespread power outages.

The city of Kitchener in southeastern Ontario clocked the highest wind gust at 82 mph. Ottawa and Toronto recorded peak gusts of 75 mph.

Local officials said more than a million customers lost power during the severe weather on Saturday. Nearly 200,000 customers were still without electricity as of Monday morning.

"The level of damage to our distribution system is simply beyond comprehension," Hydro Ottawa said in a statement posted to Twitter on Monday morning. "In many cases, the restoration efforts will be lengthy as crews deal with downed trees, damaged hydro poles and other obstacles on a house-by-house basis across the city."

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Police said one person was killed and two others were injured when a tree fell onto a camping trailer at the Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area in Ontario.

Brant County Ontario Provincial Police said that incident occurred just before 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.

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Two of those victims sustained minor injuries, but police said one person was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries and later died.

A 59-year-old man was killed at an Ottawa golf course when a tree fell on him during the severe weather.

In Oxford County, located in southwestern Ontario, three more people were injured when trees fell onto golf carts. Those injuries were described as non-life-threatening.

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A woman in her 70s died after a tree fell on her while she was out walking in the Peel Region of Ontario.

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Another woman drowned after her boat capsized on the Ottawa River in Quebec, according to the CBC.

Firefighters from the Ottawa Fire Services were going door to door Monday morning to perform wellness checks on residents and provide any needed assistance following the destructive storm.

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