Five people are dead and one is missing after a Canadian whale-watching tour boat sank off the coast of British Columbia.
A gray whale spouting off the coast of Tofino which is a popular destination for tourists. Photo: 123RF
Rescue officials said 21 people had been rescued when the search was called off late at night.
Eighteen of them were taken to hospital, with some in a stable condition and others discharged.
The boat, the Leviathan II came from Tofino on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
It's a popular tourist destination for surfers, hikers and whale watchers.
In 1998, a boat operated by the same company - Whaling Station and Adventure Centres - also sank near Tofino, killing the ship's captain and a German tourist.
The Canadian broadcaster CBC said the boat appeared to have sank some distance from the shore.
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.
- BBC
