The death toll from this weekend's severe thunderstorms in Canada's two most populous provinces grew to eight, authorities reported on Sunday, as emergency teams continued a mammoth clean-up effort to restore electricity to 500,000 people.

The storms, which lasted for more than two hours on Saturday afternoon and were as powerful as a tornado, left a path of destruction in portions of Ontario and Quebec. According to utility firms, wind gusts of up to 132 kilometers per hour (82 miles per hour) brought down trees, uprooted electric poles, and brought numerous metal transmission towers.

Electricity firms scrambled to reconnect transmission lines on Sunday. According to authorities, most storm-related fatalities happen when falling trees strike persons.

Premier Justin Trudeau stated that the federal government was prepared to assist individuals in need. Trudeau tweeted on Sunday, "We're thinking of everyone affected, and thanking the crews who are working to restore power,"

On Sunday, the largest electrical distribution provider in Ontario, Hydro One H.TO, tweeted that employees reacted to severe damage. The heavy thunderstorms were forewarned via cellphone alerts issued by Environment Canada.

According to a statement released late Sunday night, Hydro One technicians have restored electricity to more than 360,000 customers, with more than 226,000 still without power.

According to the firm, restoration activities will likely continue for several days until power is restored to all consumers.