Search underway for man, toddler swept away in Gaspé’s Sainte-Anne River

A search is under way in the flooded Gaspé region of Quebec for a 37-year-old man and a two-year-old girl who were swept away into the Sainte-Anne River.

READ MORE: Flooding ravages municipalities across Quebec

Quebec provincial police say the family was trying to drive across a non-passable stretch of road when their vehicle was pushed into the river and sank.

The child’s mother managed to swim to safety but police are continuing to search for the missing pair and are issuing a warning for Quebec residents to stay away from water-covered roads, which they say are very dangerous.

READ MORE: Montreal, Laval declare states of emergency

Nearly 19,000 homes have been flooded in roughly 130 municipalities in Quebec from the Ontario border to the Gaspé peninsula and Montreal declared a state of emergency Sunday after three dikes collapsed in the north end of the city.

WATCH BELOW: Dramatic scenes from the flood zone

2:38 Flood emergency in Quebec

• Flood emergency in Quebec
• Additional Canadian Forces troops called in to assist Quebec flood efforts
• Residents working hard to save homes from flood waters in Terrace Vaudreuil, Que.
• Officials, army update flooding situation in Gatineau, Que
• Flooding continues to take toll Gatineau residents
• Montreal declares state of emergency due to flooding
• Flood-weary Quebec residents wait for relief
• West Island communities working hard to minimize effects of flooding
• Army assists Quebec communities dealing with severe floods
• Vaudreuil residents rally to help flooded neighbours
• Couillard on Quebec floods
• Sainte-Anne-de –Bellevue residents prepare for more flooding

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National Defence said approximately 800 additional troops were deployed in the province Sunday, joining more than 400 Canadian Armed Forces members already assisting with the flood effort.

READ MORE: Canadian Forces dispatch 400 troops to help with Quebec floods

The province’s environment minister says the historic flooding is the result of a harsh winter followed by heavy rains in April and May.

But David Heurtel says there are “encouraging signs” in the Outaouais region, where water levels were rising more slowly than before.

READ MORE: What to do if you’re living in a neighborhood affected by the flooding

Quebec’s public safety minister, Martin Coiteux, says the flooding is expected to hit its peak over the next few days and begin receding mid-week.