Canada deploys troops to area hit by Fiona

Remains of a home destroyed during Hurricane Fiona are seen in Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. Across the Maritimes, eastern Quebec and in southwestern Newfoundland, the economic impact of hurricane Fiona's wrath is still being tallied. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Remains of a home destroyed during Hurricane Fiona are seen in Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. Across the Maritimes, eastern Quebec and in southwestern Newfoundland, the economic impact of hurricane Fiona's wrath is still being tallied. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

TORONTO -- Canada's defense minister said Monday that 100 soldiers have been deployed to each of the three Atlantic provinces hit by Hurricane Fiona and a navy vessel will visit the most devastated area of Newfoundland, where 76 homes were destroyed or structurally damaged.

Defense Minister Anita Anand said the HMCS Margaret Brooke will conduct wellness checks at four hard-hit communities. She also said more troops are ready if called upon.

After surging north from the Caribbean as a major hurricane, Fiona came ashore before dawn Saturday as a post-tropical cyclone, battering Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Quebec with hurricane-strength winds, rain and waves.

Fiona swept homes into the sea in one Newfoundland coastal community and knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of people in eastern Canada.

Anand said troops would help remove fallen trees, restore transportation links and do whatever else is required for as long as it takes.

Fiona was blamed for at least five deaths in the Caribbean and two deaths in Canada.

Authorities found the body of a 73-year-old woman who had been missing in Channel-Port Aux Basques, a town on the southern coast of Newfoundland.

And the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said Monday that they have ended a weekend search for an 81-year-old Nova Scotia man missing since Friday who is believed to have been swept out to sea during the storm.

Gudie Hutchings, the federal lawmaker for the area hardest hit in Newfoundland, said 76 families did not have a place to live.

"Pictures do not portray the utter devastation in this area," Hutchings said. "It will be a long time before this area gets back on its feet."

Across Atlantic Canada, eastern Quebec and in southwestern Newfoundland, the economic impact of the storm's wrath is still being tallied.

Electricity had yet to be restored to 266,000 homes and businesses. At the height of the storm Saturday, more than 500,000 people were in the dark, including 80% of Nova Scotia Power's customers and 90% of Prince Edward Island.

Utility companies warned that it could be several days before the power is back on for everyone.

  photo  City workers begin the process of cleaning up after the destruction of Fiona, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. After surging north from the Caribbean as a major hurricane, Fiona came ashore before dawn Saturday as a post-tropical cyclone, battering Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Quebec with hurricane-strength winds, rains and waves. (Brian McInnis/The Canadian Press via AP)
 
 
  photo  A worker begins the process of cleaning up after the destruction of Fiona, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. After surging north from the Caribbean as a major hurricane, Fiona came ashore before dawn Saturday as a post-tropical cyclone, battering Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Quebec with hurricane-strength winds, rains and waves. Across the Maritimes, eastern Quebec and in southwestern Newfoundland, the economic impact of the storm's wrath is still being tallied. (Brian McInnis/The Canadian Press via AP)
 
 
  photo  Damaged trees and leaning power poles are seen in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, after Fiona slammed the island. After surging north from the Caribbean as a major hurricane, Fiona came ashore before dawn Saturday as a post-tropical cyclone, battering Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Quebec with hurricane-strength winds, rains and waves. (Brian McInnis/The Canadian Press via AP)
 
 
  photo  People line up with jerry cans to buy gasoline after Fiona, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. After surging north from the Caribbean as a major hurricane, Fiona came ashore before dawn Saturday as a post-tropical cyclone, battering Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Quebec with hurricane-strength winds, rains and waves. Across the Maritimes, eastern Quebec and in southwestern Newfoundland, the economic impact of the storm's wrath is still being tallied. (Brian McInnis/The Canadian Press via AP)
 
 
  photo  Trees damaged by the destruction of Fiona are seen in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. After surging north from the Caribbean as a major hurricane, Fiona came ashore before dawn Saturday as a post-tropical cyclone, battering Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Quebec with hurricane-strength winds, rains and waves. Across the Maritimes, eastern Quebec and in southwestern Newfoundland, the economic impact of the storm's wrath is still being tallied. (Brian McInnis/The Canadian Press via AP)
 
 
  photo  A resident of Charlottetown watches as city work crews clean up part of his street following the destruction of Fiona, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. After surging north from the Caribbean as a major hurricane, Fiona came ashore before dawn Saturday as a post-tropical cyclone, battering Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Quebec with hurricane-strength winds, rains and waves. Across the Maritimes, eastern Quebec and in southwestern Newfoundland, the economic impact of the storm's wrath is still being tallied. (Brian McInnis/The Canadian Press via AP)
 
 
  photo  A cable technician works to restore the internet to a part of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. After surging north from the Caribbean as a major hurricane, Fiona came ashore before dawn Saturday as a post-tropical cyclone, battering Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Quebec with hurricane-strength winds, rains and waves. (Brian McInnis/The Canadian Press via AP)
 
 
  photo  A search and rescue worker and a resident are seen on the lawn in front of a destroyed home in Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador, Monday, Sept.26, 2022. Across the Maritimes, eastern Quebec and in southwestern Newfoundland, the economic impact of hurricane Fiona's wrath is still being tallied. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
 
 
  photo  A driver cruises past a large tree which was snapped in half during the destruction of Fiona, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. After surging north from the Caribbean as a major hurricane, Fiona came ashore before dawn Saturday as a post-tropical cyclone, battering Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Quebec with hurricane-strength winds, rains and waves. Across the Maritimes, eastern Quebec and in southwestern Newfoundland, the economic impact of the storm's wrath is still being tallied. (Brian McInnis/The Canadian Press via AP)
 
 

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