Canadian authorities: Whale vessel sinks, at least 3 dead
At least three people died after a whale watching boat with 27 people on board sank off Vancouver Island and a rescue mission remained active late Sunday, Canadian authorities said.
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.
Lt.-Cmdr Desmond James, a spokesman for the rescue agency staffed by Canadian military and Coast Guard personnel, said four people were pulled from the water without vital signs, but he couldn't confirm how many had died. James could not immediately say how many people on the boat remained missing.
