Quebec provincial police have recovered the body of man who was swept away by a swollen river in floods that are feared to have claimed three other lives.

Constable Claude Dorion said a search helicopter spotted the remains of Mike Gagnon, 37, late on Monday.

Mr Gagnon and his stepdaughter went missing on Sunday after their car was swept into the Riviere Sainte-Anne in the Gaspé region of the province.

Ground search crews and divers are still looking for the toddler.

The girl’s mother was able to escape the vehicle after it was dragged into the river, but she lost sight of her boyfriend and child.

The fatality comes as flood waters in the deluged province slowly begin to recede and officials urge patience.

Image copyrightEPA

Image caption

A plastic deer is surrounded by floodwaters in Rigaud, Quebec

“We are seeing now the start of the decrease of the water levels, but it will take some time before people return to their homes,” Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard said on Tuesday morning.

The central Canadian province is experiencing some of its worst flooding in decades.

More than 170 communities have been affected, 2,733 homes have been flooded, and 1,940 people have been evacuated, according to the Quebec government.

On Tuesday, Montreal extended its state of emergency until 14 May as a “preventive measure”, said Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre.

Almost 400 homes have been inundated and 243 have been evacuated to date in the province’s largest city.

“The water levels are stable and we’ve seen it beginning to recede in some areas. That’s a good sign,” said Mayor Coderre.