Three people are in hospital after they were attacked by a polar bear in Nunavut's Baffin region.

RCMP said the three were badly injured but were expected to recover.

Officers were dispatched to a report of the attack near some cabins Tuesday afternoon outside Sanirajak, formerly known as Hall Beach, a community of about 850 people.

They were told three people had been taken to the local health centre.

Two women were later airlifted to the hospital in Iqaluit and a man was flown to a hospital in Ottawa.

RCMP said the polar bear was found dead at the site of the attack and transported to a wildlife office.

Although polar bear attacks are rare in Nunavut, there have been cases of fatal encounters with bears in recent years.

In 2018, 31-year-old Aaron Gibbons was killed by a polar bear outside Arviat, Nvt., while protecting his children.

That same summer, 33-year-old Darryl Kaunak was killed outside Naujaat while out hunting with two others.

Nunavut's environment ministry did not respond for comment on the latest attack.