Thousands left without power across the Maritimes; Canadian military steps in

Hundreds of thousands of people across the Maritimes are facing power outages from across the region in the wake of Hurricane Dorian.

The post-tropical cyclone downed power lines and trees after moving through parts of Nova Scotia on Saturday.

The wreckage that Dorian paved in its path left almost 400,000 customers across the province without power, at its peak.

55,000 customers are without power in New Brunswick. Prince Edward Island’s power outage tally is sitting at 50,000.

Canada’s Minister of Public Safety Ralph Goodale announced on Saturday that the Canadian Armed Forces would be stepping in to help with relief efforts.

Over 700 military personnel are expected to arrive in Atlantic Canada on Sunday to help restore essential services and ensure public welfare, said Goodale in a press release.

The military will assist with the restoration of power services, clearing major roadways, and evacuating residents in severely damaged areas.

The Nova Scotia government has asked residents to stay off roads and to treat all power lines as if they were live so that crews can safely start the process of restoring power.

There were no reports of injuries as hurricane Dorian passed through parts of the province, but videos shared on social media showcased windows being smashed, as well as a massive construction crane collapsing into the side of a building in Halifax.

Hospitals in Nova Scotia are functioning on power generators, said the Nova Scotia Health Authority in an interview with the CBC. The Nova Scotia Health Authority added that hospitals and living facilities will be the priority for power restoration by Nova Scotia Energy.