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Canada whale-watching tragedy: Four dead as boat sinks Canada whale-watching tragedy: Five dead as Leviathan II boat sinks
(about 3 hours later)
A whale-watching boat has sunk off the coast of British Columbia in Canada, leaving at least four people dead, emergency bodies say. A whale-watching boat has sunk off the coast of British Columbia in western Canada, leaving at least five people dead and others missing.
The boat sank near Tofino on Vancouver Island in the west of the country, coastguard and rescue officials said. The boat carrying 27 people sank near Tofino on Vancouver Island in the west of the country, coastguard and rescue officials said.
Associated Press and Agence France-Presse reported that there were 27 people on board. A coroner quoted by Canadian media said at least five people had died. Their nationalities are unknown.
Rescue officials quoted by Canadian media said at least four people had died. A hospital spokeswoman said 18 people had been rescued.
Their nationalities are not known. Valerie Wilson, of the Vancouver Island Health Authority, told Associated Press that the survivors had been admitted to Tofino General Hospital. three of whom had since been transferred.
Barb McLintock, a spokeswoman for the British Columbia coroner, told AP there were "multiple" deaths. She added that authorities did not yet have a firm number of casualties as the incident was ongoing. The search is expected to continue throughout the night.
The Canadian broadcaster CBC said nine people had been transferred to hospital or were being treated by first responders, having been in the water. The first rescue boats to arrive belonged to a nearby First Nation community, councillor Tom Campbell said.
The Canadian coastguard tweeted that boats form Tofino continued to be involved in the rescue. "Their looks tell the whole story,'' he told AP. "You can't describe looks on people that are lost. They look totally lost - shocked and lost.''
The boat appeared to have sank some distance from the shore, CBC said. The boat appeared to have sank some distance from the shore, the Canadian broadcaster CBC said.
Canadian media said the boat was operated by Jamie's Whaling Station and Adventure Centers. The company's website said its whale-watching tours were finishing for the season on 31 October, and that it had been operating for 30 years. Canadian media said the 20-metre (65ft) boat, Leviathan II, was operated by Jamie's Whaling Station and Adventure Centers.
The company's website said its whale-watching tours were finishing for the season on 31 October, and that it had been operating for 30 years.
Reports said seas near Tofino were calm and the weather sunny when the boat sank.Reports said seas near Tofino were calm and the weather sunny when the boat sank.
Tofino is a popular destination for tourists wanting to spot humpback and Pacific Gray whales, and trips usually last up to three hours.Tofino is a popular destination for tourists wanting to spot humpback and Pacific Gray whales, and trips usually last up to three hours.