BC Hydro says power has been restored to about 88 per cent of the 120,000 customers impacted during a windstorm on B.C.’s south coast overnight.
The windstorm, which started Tuesday (Dec. 16), knocked out power to more than 120,000 BC Hydro customers in the Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast, Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.
BC Hydro said that as of 5 p.m. on Wednesday, power had been restored to about 105,000 customers. The remaining 15,000 customers without power are in the Lower Mainland.
The update adds that “due to the extensive damage,” some people could remain without power overnight.
“While crews have made significant progress, they have also encountered challenges in some areas that have slowed progress. These include access challenges due to the heavy debris on some roads. Crews will work overnight and through the day (Thursday) to continue to restore customers as quickly and safely as possible.”
The hardest hit areas at 6 a.m. Wednesday were:
• 18,400 customers without power in Surrey
• 12,500 customers without power in Port Coquitlam
• 11,700 customers without power in Burnaby
• 11,200 customers without power in Vancouver
• 11,200 customers without power in Maple Ridge
• 10,000 customers without power in North Vancouver