Massive blackout hits downtown Toronto, cause still unknown

A massive power outage has affected the heart of downtown Toronto.

Several blocks in the Yonge Street and Dundas Street area, including Yonge-Dundas Square itself, lost power shortly after 12:30 p.m. on thursday.

The giant screens that normally display ads in this area are also down.

Several blocks of downtown Toronto are experiencing power outages after a major blackout on Thursday, August 11, 2022.

Other areas affected by the blackout include Eaton. Center, Toronto Police Headquarters, St. Lawrence Market.

According to the Toronto Transportation Service, the power outage spanned at least a four-block radius. 

Toronto Hydro blackout map shows power outages in the area from College Street to Harbor Street and between Sherborne and York Streets, currently over 10,000 It shows that many customers are affected.

Toronto Hydro's outage map shows the impact of a massive power outage in the city center on Thursday, August 11, 2022. (Toronto Hydro)

Toronto Police and Hydro One said they were also aware of the power outage. We remind you to consider the intersection as a four-way stop.

Elevators in the area are also affected. In a tweet published Thursday afternoon, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said he is currently trapped in an elevator shaft of a building in downtown Toronto. It's time,' he said alongside a photo from inside the elevator.

The Toronto Fire Department says it is responding to a number of elevator rescues listed in the downtown core. Similarly, the service says wires are down on Bushett and Commissioners streets in the city's Portland neighborhood, but it's unclear at this time if that's the cause of the blackout.

This is breaking news. More coming.