4 children found unresponsive, 1 man missing after tide sweeps fishing group in eastern Quebec

Four children were found unresponsive on a St. Lawrence River shoreline in Portneuf-sur-Mer on Quebec's North Shore, and were transported to a regional health centre Saturday, Quebec provincial police said.

The children, all above 10 years old, were among a group of 11 people fishing on the river bank without a boat when a rising tide swept them away.

Six were rescued but five, including the four children, were reported missing at around 2 a.m. Rescue teams are searching for the fifth person — a man in his 30s.

The children were not breathing when they were recovered on the shore, according to police spokesperson Sgt. Catherine Bernard.

"We are waiting for news about their health condition, but we fear for their lives," she said.

Quebec provincial police are searching for the missing man with all-terrain vehicles and by helicopter. Divers and Canadian Armed Forces soldiers are expected to assist in the the search.

"When it's low tide, you can fish a little further away from the shore. However, at some point the tide came back in and they were caught off guard when the tide started to rise," Bernard said in a phone interview.

Quebec Public Security Minister François Bonnardel called the situation an "unnamable catastrophe" and a tragedy in an interview with Radio-Canada about wildfires Saturday morning.

In a written statement, Bloc Québécois MP for Manicouagan Marilène Gill said her thoughts are with the people in the region. Her office said she will meet with the mayor, Jean-Maurice Tremblay, as soon as possible on Saturday.

"As a mother, my heart is with you and my entire team is here for you," read the statement.