West Canada Blizzard Leaves Thousands without Electricity

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Thousands of British Columbian (B.C) residents in Canada's west is left without electricity on Tuesday, January 6, 2014, one day after a severe blizzard hit the region, said a spokesperson for B.C Hydro. 

The blizzard dumped up to 40 centimeters of snow on Monday, forcing the closure of schools and roads across the affected area on what was supposed to be the first day of school following the winter holiday period across Canadian schools. 

Road closures and slippery conditions on trunk roads across the area have impeded the authorities efforts to restore electricity connections to affected customers, said the spokesperson for BC Hydro, Simi Heer, as quoted by Xinhua. 

Up until Tuesday morning, more than 2,000 customers across Canada's West Coast remain without electric power, while more than 1,000 rural Canadians are similarly affected. 

Around three dozen emergency alerts are still in effect as per Tuesday, relating to the possible return of blizzards, snow, sleet, and extremely cold temperatures across BC, except the Southern Coast and Metro Vancouver. 

Several main thoroughfares remain closed due to the blizzard, according to DriveBC, a website run by Canada's Transport Ministry, who also warned that moderate-to-high snowfall and gale force winds may cause further avalanches across the affected area. 

ANTARA