Search for father and 2 missing children continues in Quebec after Amber Alert issued

This is a developing story. For the latest, go here.

A large-scale search for a 44-year-old father and his two young daughters is continuingin Quebec Friday morning.

According to provincial police spokespersonSgt. Louis-Philippe Bibeau, officers have reason to believe the girls were abducted by their father,Martin Carpentier.

Carpentier and the two girls are from Lvis, Que.,across the St. Lawrence River from the province's capital, Quebec City. An Amber Alert was issued for them Thursday afternoon.

Carpentier weighs 130 pounds, is fivefeet, 10 inches tall, and iswearing a grey T-shirt and jeans. He may be wearing glasses and isdescribed as having thinning hair.

His daughter, Norah, 11,is described as five foot, two inches tall, and thin, wearing a white hat and white Nike sandals.Romy, 6,is described as three feettall,wearing a pink shirt and heart-shaped earrings, and has on red nail polish.

The girls and their father were spotted in a convenience store inSaint-Nicolas, Que. around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Bibeau said.

Police say the family's vehicle was then involved in a crashon Highway 20 at around 9:30 p.m. that same evening.

Police say the grey Volkswagen Passat was heading east when it rolled over several times and came to rest in the opposite lane.

The crash occurred in the Lotbinire region, about 70 kilometres west of Quebec City. When police arrived, there was no one in the vehicle.

Bibeau said the officers are exploring multiple hypotheses, including a theory that the girls were not in the car at the time of the crash.

Investigators are now trying to figure out what happened in the hour between those two events, Bibeau said.

"We're still looking for witnesses, people that can help us to understand what happened in that hour," he said in an interview Friday morning.

According to provincial police,it is believed Carpentier has his two girls in theSaint-Apollinaire area.

Authorities are asking residents in surrounding regionsto search their barns, sheds and trailers for signs of the missing family.

Officers combed the area all night Thursday and are expected to continue searchingon the ground earlyFriday morning.

According toBibeau, canine units and ATVs will be deployed in Saint-Apollinaire.

Anybody with information is encouraged to call 911.

For details visit www.alert.gouv.qc.ca or stay tuned to social and local media.