The four children were found unresponsive off the coast of Portneuf-sur-Mer, Que. The provincial police (SQ) have confirmed Saturday’s death.
The children, aged more than 10, were part of a group of 11 people swept away by the tide overnight while fishing in Quebec’s northern coastal region.
One person, a man in his 30s, is still missing as of 1.30pm on Saturday, while six others were rescued in the early hours of the morning.
“According to initial reports, a group of people were fishing on foot along the shore when they were caught in the tide,” SQ Sergeant Catherine Bernard said.
Tides in the region can be dangerous, he explained; the waters recede up to a kilometer at low tide, meaning it’s a long way back to safety as the coast begins to recede.
Rescuers were first called to the waters near Portneuf-sur-Mer, about 300 km northeast of Quebec City, around 2 a.m. The lifeless bodies of the children were discovered a few hours later.
The search for the missing man continues on Saturday afternoon, with SQ divers and members of the Armed Forces called in to assist.
Police did not release the identities of the victims, but said they knew each other.
With archives from The Canadian Press.
This is a developing story.
