MONTREAL (AFP) - A fire at a Quebec residence for elderly people has killed three people, with 30 more missing, police said on Thursday.

The fire at the residence, which housed some 50 to 60 elderly people, broke out shortly after midnight.

The home is located in the small town of L'Isle Verte, which has a population of about 1,400 people.

Authorities said at least nine people were injured, one seriously, and were being treated at nearby hospitals.

The Red Cross created a makeshift shelter at a local school where 16 people rescued from the inferno spent the night, according to a representative, Myriam Marotte, who spoke to local television.

The blaze was fanned by frigid winds, as the eastern section of North America endures a brutal cold snap after being blanketed by snow.