Police in Manitoba are investigating the death of five people, three of them children, who died in separate events that are believed to be connected.

Authorities were called out to Carmen on Sunday, a town just south of Winnipeg, where a woman was found dead in a ditch.

Several hours later, a separate call led police to another scene 70 kilometres north of Carmen for a call about a burning vehicle.

Authorities later learned a witness had pulled three children from the burning vehicle.

Tragically, all three children were pronounced dead.

Authorities detained a 29-year-old man but have not released details on his relationship to the deceased or the charges he may be facing.

A fifth woman was found deceased in her home when police continued their investigation back in the town of Carmen.

The city’s mayor said the news devastated the tight-knight community of about 3,000.