Key information

* Eight children, aged between 18 months and 15 years, were found dead in a Cairns home

* Police report seven are siblings and one child is a relative.

* AAP has reported a 20-year-old brother of the seven children found the bodies but police are yet to publicly confirm that information.

* The house is on Murray Street, Manoora – a suburb of Cairns.

* Police were called to the property about 11.20am, responding to reports of a woman with serious injuries.

* Police believe the 34-year-old woman subsequently taken to hospital with stab wounds is the mother of seven of the deceased children. She is a stable condition, according to Queensland Health.

* A second person is also in hospital but police have provided few details so far

* There are no "formal suspects" at this stage, according to the most-recent update from police.

* Police believe it is an isolated incident, which has shocked the country

* Cairns residents are holding candlelight vigils tonight

* The family is described as "close knit" and are members of the Torres Strait Islander community

* Community leaders asked for the customs to be respected by not naming the family at this stage.

If people are feeling distressed, Lifeline can provide support on 13 11 14.

7.21pm: Update:

Community leader Norman Miller, who knew the family, said the city of Cairns "would stand with us".

"It is a very big family," he told Channel 7.

"When you talk about Aboriginal and Islander families, their families go right across, right up to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and I believe that through this tragic situation, that the healing process [will begin] and that also we can stand up [together] through this situation."

6.52pm: Update:

Eight Cairns children have been stabbed to death and another woman is in hospital with injuries while police say there are no ``formal suspects'' at this time.

The 34-year-old woman taken by ambulance to Cairns Hospital is in a stable condition, according to Queensland Health.

And the department's priority is to ensure it staff and the community has ready access to support as they come to terms with the events, acting Director-General Dr Michael Cleary says.

"This is a shocking and traumatic event for the families involved as well the broader far north region, and we will work together to support all members of the community," he said.

6.46pm: Update: 

Cairns mayor Bob Manning told Fairfax Media the whole community was in shock.

"People are tremendously saddened by the loss of so many young lives, this is truly a tragic event," he said.

"At the moment we just need to wait until police complete their investigations and give their report - there is so much we don't know."

Mr Manning said council would do everything it could to support the family and community through the grieving process.

Eight Cairns children have been stabbed to death and another woman is in hospital with injuries.

The children were aged between 18 months and 15 years old, police have confirmed.

A 34-year-old woman is receiving treatment for serious injuries and is assisting police.

A crime scene has been set up at a home in Murray Street in Manoora, a suburb of Cairns.

Detectives are searching through the home, which is believed to be used for community housing.

Police were called to the property about 11.20am, following reports of a woman with serious injuries.

They have now set up a a mobile centre at the scene, with officers from the Cairns Criminal Investigation Branch, Child Protection and Investigation Unit, Scenes of Crime and Scientific section at the scene.

Cairns Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar said the incident was "extremely distressing", however he was unable to confirm the relationships between the victims.

When asked whether the woman in hospital was in police custody, he said: "No, not at all. She's assisting us with our inquiries at this stage."

A map shows where the where bodies were found.

"As it stands at the moment, there's no need for the public to be concerned about this other than that it's a tragic, tragic event. The situation is well controlled at the moment," he told reporters.

"There shouldn't be any concerns for anyone else out of this environment and as we progress further we'll be sharing the results of our investigation.

"The crime scene is being locked down. That includes, from me. Nobody goes in there until our forensic people are finished and until we have done that we're not going to be able to clearly establish any relationships."

"This is not a small job, we're not taking this lightly at all. We don't do that here in the Far North, This will be done to the nth degree and we will cover every angle before this is finished."

Police are expected to provide an update to the investigation at 4.30pm.

Manoora is located within the north Queensland city of Cairns, and is about four kilometres from the central business district.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott issued a statement on Friday afternoon, describing the incident as "an unspeakable crime".

"All parents would feel a gut-wrenching sadness at what has happened," he said.

"These are trying days for our country. Tonight, there will be tears and prayers for these children."

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said he was "saddened and shocked" by the tragedy, and that his thoughts were with the family and friends of the victims.

"I'm also aware of the impact this will have on the emergency service workers and police officers who responded to the scene, and I have asked the Acting Ministers to make sure those individuals are receiving the support they need," he said.

"Indeed, the whole Cairns community and the people of Queensland will feel the effects of this tragedy, particularly at a time of year when families come together."

"I ask that all Queenslanders reach out to those who may need support in coming days and do not hesitate to seek professional assistance if needed."

Queensland Opposition Leader Annastasia Palaszczuk said the deaths were "absolutely heartbreaking news".

The Department of Communities are sending a team to Cairns to "deal with the human and social recovery".

"It is similar to community recovery," a spokeswoman said.

The spokeswoman could not confirm whether the family was known to the department. 

- with AAP and Amy Remeikis