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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. | A whale-watching boat has sunk off the coast of British Columbia in western Canada, leaving at least five people dead. |
| The boat carrying 27 people sank near Tofino on Vancouver Island, the coastguard said. Sea conditions at the time were reported to be calm. | The boat carrying 27 people sank near Tofino on Vancouver Island, the coastguard said. Sea conditions at the time were reported to be calm. |
| Emergency officials said 21 people had been rescued and one other person was still missing. | Emergency officials said 21 people had been rescued and one other person was still missing. |
| The nationalities of the victims are not yet known. | The nationalities of the victims are not yet known. |
| The boat, Leviathan II, made a mayday call late on Sunday afternoon, the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre said. | The boat, Leviathan II, made a mayday call late on Sunday afternoon, the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre said. |
| 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. | 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 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 the nearby Ahoushat First Nation community, aboriginal councillor Tom Campbell said. |
| He said he saw the first survivors brought ashore. | 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.'' |
| Canadian broadcaster CBC said the boat appeared to have sunk some distance from the shore. | |
| The 20m (65ft) boat was operated by Jamie's Whaling Station and Adventure Centres. | |
| In a statement on the company's website, owner Jamie Bray said: "It has been a tragic day. Our entire team is heartbroken over this incident. | |
| "We are doing everything we can to assist our passengers and staff through this difficult time. We are co-operating with investigators to determine exactly what happened." | |
| 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. |
| Are you in the area? Have you been affected by any of the issues raised in this story? You can share your comments and experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |