Photo: Portneuf-sur-Mer

UPDATE: 11:30 a.m.

Provincial police say four children whose bodies were found on the shore of the St. Lawrence River near a village in northeastern Quebec earlier today have died.

Police say the dead were among a group of 11 people who were fishing for capelin near the shore when they were caught in the tide in Portneuf-sur-Mer, a small village about 550 kilometres northeast of Montreal.

The bodies of four children — all young minors older than 10 — were found unresponsive on the river bank a few hours after the emergency call.

The bodies were transported to a nearby health clinic where a doctor confirmed their deaths.

A man in his 30s remains missing and police say a search is underway to find him, with Quebec provincial police divers and Canadian Forces members taking part.

Police issued a statement saying investigators and forensic teams have been deployed to shed light on what happened.

A 911 call came in about 2 a.m. and police say six people were rescued from the water and five others were reported missing — the four victims and the missing man.

ORIGINAL: 8:50 a.m.

A fishing trip in northern Quebec has turned tragic after the bodies of four unresponsive children were found on the shores of the St. Lawrence River earlier today.

Quebec provincial police say early information suggests a group of people were fishing on the shore when they were caught by the tide in Portneuf-sur-Mer, about 550 kilometres northeast of Montreal.

Sgt. Stéphane Tremblay says a 911 call came in at about 2 a.m., adding six people were rescued from the water and five people were reported missing.

The bodies of four children were found unresponsive on the river bank a few hours after the emergency call and they were transported to a nearby health clinic.

Tremblay says police are still waiting for word on the children's condition.

A man in his 30s remains missing and police say a search is underway to find him, with Quebec provincial police divers and Canadian Forces members taking part.