Nearly 17,000 households and businesses in the Canadian province of Quebec (pictured) are still without power as a result of a violent storm last Friday, according to reports.

Energy firm Hydro-Quebec said it has restored service to close to 96% of its customers following severe thunderstorms that swept through southern Quebec – in east-central Canada – on Friday evening, causing numerous power outages and affecting more than 560,000 customers.

It added: “In some of the hardest hit areas, the work could go on until Wednesday. Hundreds of employees and contractors are continuing their efforts to rebuild heavily damaged portions of the power system and restore service as quickly as possible.”

Quebec was hit by winds up to 100 kilometres per hour in some places, with reports claiming it was so severe that trees were uprooted and cars were flipped.

Earlier this month, Ofgem warned the possibility of Britain facing power shortages could significantly rise towards the middle of the decade, however, the Government insisted the nation won’t be hit by any industrial blackout.