A baby and teenager are among four people to have frozen to death while attempting to enter the US via the Canadian border during a -37C blizzard.
Mounties found the bodies of an adult man, adult woman, teen boy and infant on Wednesday morning, just metres from the border line near the town of Emerson, Manitoba, in Canada.
US Customs and Border Protection officers had stopped a group of people on American soil after they crossed the border around 9.30am and alerted Canadian border officials.
One of those apprehended had items meant for a baby, but there was no infant with them leading officials to launch an immediate search.
The three bodies were discovered at 1.30pm and a fourth - that of the teenage boy - was then found soon after.
Police say the victims appear to have succumbed to exposure to the freezing weather - though post-mortem are yet to confirm this.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Assistant Commissioner Jane MacLatchy called the incident an "absolute and heartbreaking tragedy".
"What I am about to share is going to be difficult for many people to hear," she told a news conference on Thursday.
"I can assure you that the search for any possible survivors or additional victims continued throughout the evening [Wednesday] and our officers continued to patrol the area today."
She explained the terrain is "difficult" and searchers quickly found the snow "very deep, drifted in spots" and so snowmobiles were deployed.
"Because of the winter conditions right now, it’s virtually impassable," she said.
Referring to the crossing of the as yet unidentified victims, the assistant commissioner went on to say: "That's on purpose.
"We're very concerned that this attempted crossing may have been facilitated in some way and that these individuals, including an infant, were left on their own in the middle of a blizzard when the weather hovered around –35F [with the wind chill]."
"These victims faced not only the cold weather but endless fields, large snowdrifts and complete darkness."
She added work is underway to identify the names, ages and nationalities of the victims.
Post-mortems have also been scheduled.
Ms MacLatchy said her officers are working with US Customs and Border Protection, as well as the US Department of Homeland Security.
She continued: "I also have a message to anyone who's thinking of crossing the border in Manitoba, either heading south or north: just don't do it.
"Do not listen to anyone who tells you they can get you to your destination safely. They cannot. Even with proper clothing, it is not a journey that is possible.
"I do understand that for some there may be a great need to get to another country, but this is not the way."
