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Canada whale-watching tragedy: Five dead as Leviathan II boat sinks Canada whale-watching tragedy: Five dead as Leviathan II boat sinks
(35 minutes later)
A whale-watching boat has sunk off the coast of British Columbia in western Canada, leaving at least five people dead and others missing. A whale-watching boat has sunk off the coast of British Columbia in western Canada, leaving at least five people dead and several others missing.
The boat carrying 27 people 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, coastguard and rescue officials said.
A coroner quoted by Canadian media said at least five people had died. Their nationalities are unknown. The nationalities of the victims are not yet known.
A hospital spokeswoman said 18 people had been rescued. A spokeswoman for the hospital in Tofino said 18 people had been rescued. The search is expected to continue throughout the night.
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. Valerie Wilson, of the Vancouver Island Health Authority, told Associated Press that the survivors had been admitted to Tofino General Hospital and three of them had since been transferred elsewhere.
The search is expected to continue throughout the night. The first rescue boats to arrive belonged to the nearby Ahoushat First Nation community, aboriginal councillor Tom Campbell said.
The first rescue boats to arrive belonged to a nearby First Nation community, councillor Tom Campbell said. He said he saw the first survivors brought ashore.
"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.''"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 sunk some distance from the shore, the Canadian broadcaster CBC said.The boat appeared to have sunk some distance from the shore, the Canadian broadcaster CBC said.
Canadian media said the 20-metre (65ft) boat, Leviathan II, was operated by Jamie's Whaling Station and Adventure Centers. Canadian media said the 20m (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.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.
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