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| Canada whale-watching: Leviathan II boat sinking kills five | |
| (about 1 hour 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 before sinking, the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre said. | The boat, Leviathan II, made a mayday call late on Sunday afternoon before sinking, the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre said. |
| The agency's spokesman, Lt Cmdr Desmond James, said the search for the missing person would be taken over by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. | The agency's spokesman, Lt Cmdr Desmond James, said the search for the missing person would be taken over by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. |
| Valerie Wilson, of the Vancouver Island Health Authority, told the Associated Press (AP) news agency 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. | 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. | The 20m (65ft) boat was operated by Jamie's Whaling Station and Adventure Centres. |
| Whale watching off British Columbia | |
| 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. | 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." | "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. | 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 |