Pimicikamak Cree Nation faces burst pipes and infrastructure damage after power restoration

Power was restored in stages after a power line crossing the Nelson River snapped, but residents report burst pipes, flooding and infrastructure damage affecting hundreds of homes.

Power has been coming back to Pimicikamak Cree Nation after a days-long outage that began when a power line crossing the Nelson River snapped. Restoration work began on Thursday and leaders said about two-thirds of homes had power by Thursday night. Within hours of power returning, residents began reporting frozen and burst pipes, flooding and other household damage. Community leaders are assessing the situation while many people remain evacuated. What is known: - The outage began when a power line that crosses the Nelson River snapped, and staged restoration began on Thursday. - Chief David Monias said about two-thirds of homes had power by Thursday night. - Residents reported burst water lines, sewage backups, cracked plumbing fixtures and flooded floors. - Hundreds of homes are estimated to have been affected and local plumbers are working to make repairs. - About 1,400 people evacuated from a community with an on‑reserve population of roughly 7,000 after a state of emergency was declared; many stayed in hotels or with relatives. Summary: Frozen and burst pipes have produced flooding and household damage across the community, creating strain on local infrastructure and repair resources. Leaders are working to assess and repair homes, and it is unclear when evacuees can safely return. Undetermined at this time.