Police bomb squad responds to ancient barrel sighted near island in St. Lawrence River - CBC

A helicopter was dispatched to respond to an ancient barrel discovered off Île aux Canards., near Isle-aux-Grues, Que., roughly 50 kilometres northeast of Quebec City. (Gaétan Pouliot/Radio-Canada)Social SharingProvincial police called a bomb squad to the private island of Île aux Canards, in the St. Lawrence River, following the discovery of an ancient barrel in the water.

A security perimeter and no-flight zone have been established around the island, which sits off the coast of Isle-aux-Grues, Que., roughly 50 kilometres northeast of Quebec City.

Out of precaution, the object is being treated with the same protocol as hazardous material, says Sûreté du Québec (SQ) spokesperson, Audrey-Anne Bilodeau.

A bomb squad, helicopter, drone unit, nautical patrol, lifesaving crew and investigators are among the crew responding. Bilodeau says the island is uninhabited.

"The goal of the mission today is really to do some tests to know what the substance [inside the barrel] would be," she said.

She urged if members of the public come across a barrel of any kind that they do not touch it or try to open it, but note its location and call 911.