5 dead after Canadian whale-watching boat carrying 27 sinks

Greg Toppo | USATODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Canadian whale-watching boat carrying 27 sinks At least four people died when a whale watching boat capsized off the coast of Tofino in British Columbia. Video provided by Newsy

Five people died after a whale watching boat with 27 people on board sank off Vancouver Island, Canadian authorities said Monday.

Lt. Commander Desmond James of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre said the agency’s search has concluded with five people dead, 21 rescued and one person missing, the Associated Press reported.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police will take over the search for the missing person, according to the news agency.

British Columbia Coroner’s Service spokesperson Barb McLintock told CTV News that there were "multiple fatalities" following the incident Sunday.

The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre said the boat sank off Tofino, B.C. The center said it received a mayday call from the boat at around 4 p.m. PT.

CTV News reported that the ship belongs to Jamie's Whaling Station and Adventure Centres, which offers whale-watching cruises.

Brandon Hilbert from Tofino Water Taxi told the AP that local companies were helping with the rescue effort.

Chris McLellan, who lives nearby, told CTV that he saw more than a dozen emergency vehicles at the scene. "The ambulances — it was just like one after another after another," he said. "They didn’t stop."

John Forde of the Tofino Whale Centre said several boats and divers had gathered in the area to search for survivors of the Leviathan II, the sunken 65-foot cruiser, Global News reported.

“The sea was 3 to 4 meters, a fairly big sea, but not much wind or too unusual for the conditions we deal with on a regular basis out here,” Forde said.

Forde, who was assisting with the rescue for several hours, said a large cruiser vessel like the Leviathan II wouldn’t have a requirement that passengers wear life jackets at all times.

“All the open vessels, people on zodiacs or an open style … everybody is in a Mustang floater suit or a survival suit, but the larger vessels, you’re just required to have life jackets on board, just like B.C. ferries,” he said.

The boat sank near Plover Reefs, west of Vargas Island and northwest of Tofino, Global News reported. A boat operated by Jamie’s also sank near Tofino in 1998, killing a German tourist and the captain of the ship.