Newfoundland snow: State of emergency after 'snowmageddon' hits eastern Canada

A record-breaking blizzard has buried swathes of eastern Canada in snow, in what residents are calling “snowmageddon”.

Thousands have been trapped in their homes by walls of snow and left without power after an extreme storm struck the province of Newfoundland and Labradour over the weekend.

A state of emergency was declared in the capital St John’s on Friday as 80cm of snowfall and wind gusts of up to 81mph battered the region.

Businesses and roads were closed across swathes of the city, with the nearby towns of Mount Pearl, Paradise, Torbay and Portugal Cove-St Philip’s later following suit.

St John's international airport was also shut as snowfall hit an all-time high in the area on Saturday.

Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan said military assistance might be called in, as locals struggle to clear roads and reach vulnerable residents.

"We have a real issue right now with access to the hospital," Mr O'Regan told reporters in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government had gathered for a two-day meeting.

Commenting on the scale of the blizzard, Mr O'Regan said in simple terms: "It's snow and a hurricane – and snow and a hurricane shuts down a city."

Thousands remained without power on Sunday, with footage on social media showing people forced to dig their way out of their homes.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corp (CBC) confirmed a report of an avalanche slamming into a home in St. John's Battery neighboruhood, which sits at the entrance to the city's harbour on the slopes of a steep hill.

A picture of the home on Twitter showed the living room filled with snow.

Meanwhile, other residents made light of their plight, with a number turning the streets into ski slopes.

"My hometown is the literal best," commented one Twitter user alongside a clip of a snowboarder barrelling down the road.

Others praised the emergency services, with one man tweeting a photo of firefighters battling the elements, writing: "These are Canadian firefighters in Newfoundland, responding to a call during a massive blizzard, on foot and in full gear, on a night where they'd already responded to an avalanche and even a Mayday call. #Respect."

Others shared shocking videos of the storm at its peak, with one showing her struggling to stand up against the wind.

While two little boys kept themselves busy by giving the CBC a helping hand with its coverage of the weather event.

Prime Minister Trudeau assured residents "help is on the way", adding that local authorities were working together to get them the support they need.

"We'll get through this together," he added.

A 26-year-old man has been reported missing after setting out for a friend's house on Friday as the blizzard hit.