Send this page to someone via email

Share this item on Twitter

Share this item via WhatsApp

Share this item on Facebook

The Ottawa airport was on backup power and social media lit up with video and photos of damage from a tornado near the nation’s capital on Friday.

Environment Canada said a severe thunderstorm produced a tornado that tracked over Kilburn, Dunrobin and Gatineau.

WATCH: Video posted to social media on Friday showed dark storm clouds and damage after a storm rolled through the Gatineau and Ottawa areas

0:14 Video shows aftermath of storm near Gatineau and Ottawa Video shows aftermath of storm near Gatineau and Ottawa

The agency said preliminary analysis of the damages marked it as an EF02 tornado, with winds reaching at least 180 km/h.

Story continues below advertisement

It caused severe damage to buildings and overturned cars, knocked over trees and hydro poles.

The extreme weather came as a line of thunderstorms tracked across southern Ontario.

Powerful winds and heavy rain were also seen across Quebec.

WATCH: 3 ‘serious’ injuries after tornado touches down in Dunrobin — mayor

1:04 3 ‘serious’ injuries after tornado touches down in Dunrobin: mayor 3 ‘serious’ injuries after tornado touches down in Dunrobin: mayor

One storm intensified at Calabogie, and it showed the “classic radar signature of a tornado” by the time it arrived in Dunrobin.

There were many reports of injuries; several people were hurt critically.

​

Story continues below advertisement

Four patients suffered “serious traumatic” injuries in Ottawa and were being treated on Friday night, according to Ottawa Paramedic Service.

Two others suffered minor injuries and are currently in local hospitals.

#OttawaStorm update: 4 patients suffered serious traumatic injuries, were stabilized by paramedics and are at @OttawaTrauma in serious condition. Two suffered minor injuries and are currently in local hospitals. Several others were treated and released at the scenes. #ottnews — Ottawa Paramedic Svc (@OttawaParamedic) September 22, 2018

WATCH: Gatineau man films video from inside a tornado

1:44 Witness says Gatineau tornado was ‘very quick’ Witness says Gatineau tornado was ‘very quick’

The storms knocked out power to as many as 261,000 people in Ontario and Quebec.

Story continues below advertisement

Hydro Ottawa said at least 147,000 customers were affected by power outages.

UPDATE: There are a total of 251 separate outages now in the city affecting at least 147,000 customers. We are working closely with the City and EMS regarding the #OttawaOutage and will be providing updates throughout the night. — Hydro Ottawa (@hydroottawa) September 22, 2018

Meanwhile, Hydro-Québec said over 114,000 customers were without power on Saturday morning.

Authorities said on Saturday that it could take days to restore power to Ottawa-area homes due to damage caused to a key Hydro One transformer station.

WATCH: Storm clouds were seen swirling over Gatineau, Quebec on Friday as a tornado touched down in the area

0:36 Dark clouds swirl above Gatineau as a tornado touches down in the area Dark clouds swirl above Gatineau as a tornado touches down in the area

WATCH: Lots of damage left behind after tornado touches down in Dunrobin

1:36 A lot of damage left behind after tornado touches down in Dunrobin A lot of damage left behind after tornado touches down in Dunrobin

Lynne Lessard, deputy press secretary for International Trade Diversification Minister Jim Carr tweeted this video of a storm swirling in Gatineau.

Views from Global Affairs! #Tornado sighting across the river in #Gatineau around 5:15pm. Watch for the fire shortly after I zoom in. Hope everyone is ok! #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/Ux1NBRiKUC — Lynne Lessard (@lynnelessard) September 21, 2018

Story continues below advertisement

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked people to “stay safe and follow the instructions of first responders and check in with people who might need extra help.”

WATCH: Trees uprooted, cars damaged as tornado touches down in Gatineau

0:21 Trees uprooted, cars damaged as tornado touches down in Gatineau Trees uprooted, cars damaged as tornado touches down in Gatineau

“We’re monitoring the situation and thinking of everyone affected.”

Here are some photos from Dunrobin that were taken amid the storm.

Image taken in Dunrobin after a tornado touched down in the area on Sept. 21, 2018. Mike Le Couteur/Global News

Image taken in Dunrobin after a tornado touched down in the area on Sept. 21, 2018. Mike Le Couteur/Global News

Image taken in Dunrobin after a tornado touched down in the area on Sept. 21, 2018. Mike Le Couteur/Global News

This video, taken by Andrew MacKendrick, director of media relations for Health Minister Jane Philpott, showed a tornado blowing through Gatineau.

And this video showed a tornado as the user passed through Dunrobin:

Just passed Dunrobin – seemed to travel straight down Thomas Dolan Parkway…

(Permission for any news to use – no worries) #ottweather #Ontweather pic.twitter.com/Q7OsOoXJfF — Jon (@_memorable2) September 21, 2018

Story continues below advertisement

The Professional Paramedic Association of Ottawa said they responded to 16 calls related to a tornado in the Dunrobin area, about 35 kilometres from Ottawa.

Ottawa Paramedics responding to 16 tornado related calls in Dunrobin area

– patients trapped in houses

– people trapped in basements

– patients trapped in cars

– power lines down

– trauma from debris

– secondary trauma from high winds #onstorm#ottnews pic.twitter.com/jF5KqXurkP — OttawaParamedics.ca (@Ottawa_9_1_1) September 21, 2018

The organization said calls concerned people who were trapped in their homes, basements and cars as power lines went down.

This is what damage looked like in Dunrobin.

These videos showed stormy clouds and damage near Gatineau and Ottawa.

These pictures showed power lines down and broader damage in the Greenbank area.

Homes were damaged in the Mont-Bleu area of Gatineau.

Meanwhile, the Ottawa airport was on backup power on Friday.

There were flooded streets in Ottawa’s Glebe neighbourhood.

Power’s out in the Glebe, tree branches are down and there is a LOT of water on our street. pic.twitter.com/sBjKbesFXB — Rob Annan (@robannan) September 21, 2018

Here are some photos of the damage that was left in Gatineau.

Damage to a home in Gatineau after a tornado blew through the area on Sept. 21, 2018. Bryan Mullan/Global News

Damage to a home in Gatineau after a tornado blew through the area on Sept. 21, 2018. Bryan Mullan/Global News

Damage to a home in Gatineau after a tornado blew through the area on Sept. 21, 2018. Bryan Mullan/Global News