Authorities have found the bodies of a father, a mother and their two girls in the rubble of their home, destroyed in a landslide in St-Jude, northeast of Montreal.
The victims are identified as Richard Prefontaine, Lynne Charbonneau, and their two girls, nine-year-old Amelie and 11-year-old Anais.
Up until Tuesday night, the only sign of life had been the family's dog, which rescuers found at the scene covered in mud.
About 9 p.m. Monday night, a section of earth near the Salvail River suddenly slid away, washing away their house.
Evacuation
The landslide covers an area about 1000 by 500 metres, and has forced the evacuation of at least five other houses.
Police have closed a six-kilometre stretch of a secondary road where the affected houses are located.
So far, emergency workers have no idea what triggered the landslide.
Mayor Yves Bellefeuille said the community is in shock, especially since the affected home is not in an area considered to be at risk.
Bellefeuille added that officials are trying to "reassure citizens" and that counsellors will be brought in to assist people who need help.
He also noted that the situation is particularly difficult because St. Jude is a close-knit community, and everyone in the area knows the family whose house was destroyed.
With files from The Canadian Press
