Fiona hammered the Canadian coastal provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador on Saturday. Quebec was also hit by hurricane-force winds. The storm brought heavy rain and large waves along the eastern seaboard.

Defense Minister Anita Anand said on Saturday soldiers were being deployed to remove fallen trees and help with other clean-up operations, as well as restore transportation networks. She gave no figures on the number of soldiers who will help her.

In the Caribbean, at least five people have died following the ravages of Fiona in the previous days. In Canada, no deaths or serious injuries have been reported until Sunday Norwegian time.

House on the lake

But police say a woman may have been swept away at sea in the town of Channel-Port aux Basques on the south coast of Newfoundland. She has the status of missing.

Powerful waves hit this town on Saturday.

– I see buildings on the lake. I see scrap metal floating everywhere. It is total destruction. An apartment is missing, says Wreckhouse Press editor Rene J. Roy, who lives in the city.

He estimates that between eight and twelve houses and buildings were swept away by the sea.

Trudeau cancels

As the extent of the devastation becomes clear, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has canceled his trip to Japan, where he was due to attend the funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

– We see images of destruction in Port aux Basques. Prince Edward Island experienced devastation like never before. Cape Breton is also hard hit. People see their homes destroyed. To people who are worried, I want to say that we are here for you, says Trudeau.

More than 415,000 electric utility Nova Scotia Power customers, or about 80% of the province of nearly one million people, were affected by power outages on Saturday.

More than 500,000 electricity subscribers were without power Saturday in the provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.