Thousands Evacuated After Power Outage Damages Pimicikamak Cree Nation
Thousands of residents have been evacuated from Pimicikamak Cree Nation in northern Manitoba after a prolonged power outage caused severe damage to homes and critical infrastructure.
The community’s chief said hundreds of houses were badly affected after frozen pipes burst and plumbing systems failed. The outage also damaged the local water treatment plant, leaving the community without safe water.
Infrastructure Failures Emerge as Power Returns
Residents began reporting burst pipes, leaks, and sewer backups on Thursday as power was gradually restored. According to Manitoba Hydro, crews fully restored electricity to the area by Friday afternoon.
However, officials said the return of power revealed widespread damage caused by days of extreme cold.
Extreme Cold Triggered the Crisis
The power outage began late Sunday night when a power line crossing the Nelson River snapped. At the same time, temperatures dropped well below –20 C, causing water pipes to freeze across the community.
Pimicikamak Cree Nation, located about 530 kilometres north of Winnipeg, has an on-reserve population of roughly 7,000 people.
Evacuations Continue as Assessments Begin
Authorities evacuated about 4,000 residents as crews assessed the damage and worked to restore essential services. Community leaders said they are focusing on safety, temporary housing, and repairs as conditions stabilize.
Officials continue to evaluate the full impact of the outage on homes and infrastructure.
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