A man is dead after a violent street brawl in Montreal involving about 20 people.

Montreal police say they were called to an area in the Villeray neighbourhood Saturday evening just after 9 p.m.

There, they say officers found two injured people, including a 49-year-old man who had been wounded in the head by a sharp object.

He was taken to hospital but police say he died during the night.

A 24-year-old man was also injured when he was hit several times by a blunt object, but his life is not considered to the be in danger.

The suspects fled before police arrived. The major crimes unit is investigating.