Wichita ? Strong winds accompanying storms that moved through parts of south-central Kansas during the night left many people without electrical power in Wichita and surrounding areas Monday morning.

Westar Energy officials said the storm left about 24,000 homes without electricity in the Wichita area. By mid-morning Monday, 5,400 homes and business remained without power. Service also was restored to Newton, and about 600 homes remained without power in El Dorado.

About 4,000 of those without service were in the Valley Center area where 18 poles, each carrying 69,000 volts, were downed, Westar spokeswoman Karla Olsen said Monday. The nearly 90-foot-high poles are part of a main power line for the area.

It was expected that service to Valley Center homes and businesses would be restored later Monday, she said.

The Butler County sheriff’s office said it had reports of winds up to 70 mph in the El Dorado Lake area, with an 80 mph gust. It said a couple of pop-up trailers and some tents were blown over, and that two people were reported to have suffered minor cuts and bruises.