2 dead as wind storm hits Canada

High winds, thunderstorms and hail have ripped through the Canadian province of Ontario, leaving at least two people dead while nearly 200,000 homes went without power on Friday evening, according to local reports.

A man died after being struck by a falling tree while another was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries, CTV reported, citing local police as saying that the two men were workers from a tree service company.

Environment Canada issued wind warnings across Ontario earlier on Friday, with some areas getting lashed with gusts measuring up to 110 km per hour.

For much of Friday evening, Toronto Pearson International Airport grounded all flights, but most of the suspensions have since been lifted. The airport advised passengers to check the status of their flights, with several delays remaining.

Residents in the Toronto area reported several fallen trees and even individual trees being completely uprooted from the ground.

In downtown Toronto, gusts ripped a storefront sign above a convenience store. In other areas of the city, winds snapped telephone poles, leaving wires dangling near the road.