A powerful tornado that carved a path through parts of Canada's capital snapped trees, tossed cars and obliterated dozens of homes leaving what the city's mayor on Saturday said resembled "a war scene."
More than 150,000 customers were still without power following the tornado, which churned through pockets of Ottawa's west and south ends, as well as densely populated sections of the neighboring Quebec city of Gatineau late Friday.
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A powerful tornado that carved a path through parts of Canada's capital snapped trees, tossed cars and obliterated dozens of homes leaving what the city's mayor on Saturday said resembled "a war scene."
"It looked like it was something from a movie scene or a war scene," Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson told reporters Saturday describing what he saw in the area of Dunrobin, where some 60 buildings were wiped out or partially destroyed. "Literally, it looks like some bomb was dropped from the air."
Meteorologist Simon Legault said there was evidence of powerful winds between 112-137 miles per hour (180-220 kilometers per hour).
Damage from a tornado is seen in Dunrobin, Ontario, Canada. west of Ottawa on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018. The storm tore roofs off of homes, overturned cars and felled power lines. (Sean Kilpatrick The Canadian Press via AP)
Residents board buses after apartment buildings had roofs torn off and windows blown out after a tornado caused extensive damage to a Gatineau, Quebec neighborhood forcing hundreds of families to evacuate their homes on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. A tornado damaged cars in Gatineau, Quebec, and houses in a community west of Ottawa on Friday afternoon as much of southern Ontario saw severe thunderstorms and high wind gusts, Environment Canada said. (Fred ChartrandThe Canadian Press via AP)
Damage from a tornado is seen in Dunrobin, Ontario west of Ottawa on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. A tornado damaged cars in Gatineau, Quebec, and houses in a community west of Ottawa on Friday afternoon as much of southern Ontario saw severe thunderstorms and high wind gusts, Environment Canada said. (Sean KilpatrickThe Canadian Press via AP)
People collect personal effects from damaged homes following a tornado in Dunrobin, Ontario west of Ottawa on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. A tornado damaged cars in Gatineau, Quebec, and houses in a community west of Ottawa on Friday afternoon as much of southern Ontario saw severe thunderstorms and high wind gusts, Environment Canada said. (Sean KilpatrickThe Canadian Press via AP)
Damage from a tornado is seen in Dunrobin, Ontario west of Ottawa on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. A tornado damaged cars in Gatineau, Que., and houses in a community west of Ottawa on Friday afternoon as much of southern Ontario saw severe thunderstorms and high wind gusts, Environment Canada said. (Sean KilpatrickThe Canadian Press via AP)
Authorities said dozens of people suffered injuries, however there were no reports of fatalities. The Ottawa Hospital tweeted that two people were in critical condition, one was in serious condition and two others were stable. Officials set up shelters for those who couldn't return home and they said crisis counselling would be available.
Residents leave with some of their belongings from a Gatineau, Quebec, Canada neighborhood on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018. A tornado on Friday afternoon tore roofs off of homes, overturned cars and felled power lines in the Ottawa community of Dunrobin and in Gatineau. (Fred ChartrandThe Canadian Press via AP)
"It looked like it was something from a movie scene or a war scene," Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson told reporters Saturday describing what he saw in the area of Dunrobin, where some 60 buildings were wiped out or partially destroyed. "Literally, it looks like some bomb was dropped from the air."
Much of Dunrobin, a semi-rural community about 22 miles (35 kilometers) west of downtown Ottawa, remained cordoned off by police.
Personal items were strewn everywhere — a baby blanket, a life jacket, mattresses, lawn mowers, a fridge, a kitchen sink lying on the grass and even a love seat wrapped around a telephone pole.
Damage from a tornado is seen in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018. The storm tore roofs off of homes, overturned cars and felled power lines. (Sean Kilpatrick The Canadian Press via AP)
Meteorologist Simon Legault said there was evidence of powerful winds between 112-137 miles per hour (180-220 kilometers per hour).
People walk past debris in a Gatineau, Quebec, Canada neighborhood on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018. A tornado on Friday afternoon tore roofs off of homes, overturned cars and felled power lines in the Ottawa community of Dunrobin and in Gatineau. (Fred ChartrandThe Canadian Press via AP)
Damage from a tornado is seen in Dunrobin, Ontario, Canada. west of Ottawa on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018. The storm tore roofs off of homes, overturned cars and felled power lines. (Sean Kilpatrick The Canadian Press via AP)
Residents board buses after apartment buildings had roofs torn off and windows blown out after a tornado caused extensive damage to a Gatineau, Quebec neighborhood forcing hundreds of families to evacuate their homes on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. A tornado damaged cars in Gatineau, Quebec, and houses in a community west of Ottawa on Friday afternoon as much of southern Ontario saw severe thunderstorms and high wind gusts, Environment Canada said. (Fred ChartrandThe Canadian Press via AP)
Damage from a tornado is seen in Dunrobin, Ontario west of Ottawa on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. A tornado damaged cars in Gatineau, Quebec, and houses in a community west of Ottawa on Friday afternoon as much of southern Ontario saw severe thunderstorms and high wind gusts, Environment Canada said. (Sean KilpatrickThe Canadian Press via AP)
People collect personal effects from damaged homes following a tornado in Dunrobin, Ontario west of Ottawa on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. A tornado damaged cars in Gatineau, Quebec, and houses in a community west of Ottawa on Friday afternoon as much of southern Ontario saw severe thunderstorms and high wind gusts, Environment Canada said. (Sean KilpatrickThe Canadian Press via AP)
Damage from a tornado is seen in Dunrobin, Ontario west of Ottawa on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. A tornado damaged cars in Gatineau, Que., and houses in a community west of Ottawa on Friday afternoon as much of southern Ontario saw severe thunderstorms and high wind gusts, Environment Canada said. (Sean KilpatrickThe Canadian Press via AP)