Three people are dead and 30 are missing after a fire at a retirement home in Canada. The blaze broke out at the home in L'Isle-Verte in Quebec, where up to 60 people lived.

20 people have been taken to local hospitals with serious injuries. Reports say those who were not injured were taken to a nearby school.

It is reported that firefighters received a call shortly after 12:30am (local time) from the facility, named locally as La Résidence du Havre.

Acting Mayor Ginette Caron said she has been on the scene since early Monday morning.

"All our thoughts are with the families, the people affected by this ordeal" Caron is quoted by CBC News as saying.

Caron said most of the residents were in wheelchairs or used walkers, and many of them had Alzheimer's disease. She said many of them had come to live at the residence because of the special end-of-life care offered.

Quebec police said they will be investigating the cause of the fire, and whether it was arson.

Caron said most of the residents were in wheelchairs or used walkers, and many had Alzheimer's disease.

She said many of them had come to live at the residence because of the special end-of-life care offered in the region.