Tour Boat Sinks Off British Columbia; At Least 3 Dead

By Dana Farrington / NPR

Published October 25, 2015 at 7:44 PM PDT

This story was published more than 8 years ago.

Rescue personnel, mounting a search for victims of a capsized whale-watching boat, park on a wharf in Tofino, British Columbia, on Sunday.

At least three people have died after a whale-watching boat sank off the coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, on Sunday. The boat had 27 people on board, according to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre. A search effort is ongoing to locate people who are unaccounted for.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada says it will be sending a team of investigators to look into the incident.

The Associated Press said the boat went down near Tofino. The AP adds:

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"The vessel made a mayday call late Sunday afternoon on what was a clear and sunny day in the tourist community of Tofino, a popular destination for whale watchers on Canada's West Coast, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre said."

The Leviathan II, owned by Jamie's Whaling Station in Tofino, is 65 feet in length, according to the tour company's website. It is the company's largest boat.

Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne tweeted a message of support for passengers and crew on Sunday night.