5 Britons killed in sinking of Canada whale-watching boat: CBC

The five people who were killed when a Canadian whale-watching boat sank on Sunday were British nationals, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp said on Monday, citing the British foreign secretary.

The boat, carrying 27 passengers, sank off the coast of British Columbia on Sunday afternoon, sparking a rescue effort by the Coast Guard, fisherman and private mariners. Five people were confirmed dead and one was missing, while 21 had been rescued.

The vessel, the Leviathan II, was operated by Jamie's Whaling Station and Adventure Centres.

"It has been a tragic day. Our entire team is heartbroken over this incident and our hearts go out to the families, friends and loved ones of everyone involved," owner Jamie Bray said in a statement posted on the company's website.

"We are cooperating with investigators to determine exactly what happened," he said.

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In 1998, a boat operated by the same company sank near Tofino, killing the ship's captain and a German tourist.

A military rescue helicopter and plane responded after the vessel sent a distress signal around 5 p.m. local time, according to the JRCC. Military planes and coast guard vessels lit up the area where the vessel remained partially submerged, eight nautical miles northwest of Tofino.

Most of those rescued had been taken to hospital, and several had been released.

See photos from the terrifying incident:

Tofino, a community of about 2,000 people on the west coast of Vancouver Island, is a popular tourist destination for surfers, hikers and whale watchers from around the world.

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Earlier in the evening, military planes and coast guard vessels lit up the area where the vessel remained partially submerged, eight nautical miles northwest of Tofino.

The manager of the Shelter Restaurant in Tofino said fishermen and fishing charter companies had joined the rescue effort, with about 15-20 boats leaving the tourist town.

Albert Titian posted photos on his Facebook page:

John Forde, who works at another eco-adventure company, said passengers on a vessel like the Leviathan II, a three-deck 65-foot cruiser that can carry up to 46 people, would not have had to wear life jackets. The boat, like ferries, would only be required to have life jackets on board.

He told Global TV that the seas were three to four meters high at the time of the sinking, conditions that were rough but not unusual for the area, Forde said.

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