A severe ice storm in eastern Canada has left three-quarters-of-a-million homes without electricity.

Many schools, businesses and airports in the provinces of Quebec and eastern Ontario were closed, and the weight of ice and snow on electricity pylons caused some to topple over and collapse.

The utility company said it could be days before all power is restored.

It's the depth of winter in Canada and some local authorities have opened emergency shelters for those left without heating.

Officials in Montreal said about fifteen-thousand trees lining streets in the city had been damaged and the entire municipal labour force had been mobilised to clear fallen and broken branches which were interfering with power lines and traffic.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
 

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