Eastern Canada is paralyzed by a severe snow storm outside

The rain, which began on Friday, brought the transportation network to a standstill. Many companies, schools and institutions were closed and electricity was cut off. “There were record amounts of falling,” Canadian meteorologist Bob Robichaud told AFP. He described the storm as “historic.”

“Some areas received more than 100 centimetres,” he added, referring to the outskirts of Cape Breton, an island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where a state of emergency was declared.

On social media, many residents shared videos and photos of the storm, sometimes showing piles of snow blocking doors, hanging over rooftops or burying cars. At Halifax International Airport, many flights were delayed or canceled and public transportation in the city was halted.

“With the amount of heavy, sticky snow we are dealing with, snow removal is difficult and will take time,” Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston warned during a news conference Monday afternoon. He added that he had asked the federal government and the neighboring provinces of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island for military and other assistance.