Five dead after whale watching boat sinks

At least five people are dead and 18 others were hospitalized after a whale-watching boat full of passengers sank off the coast of Vancouver Island.

There were 27 people on board the 20-metre ”Leviathan 2′ yesterday when it suddenly capsized on a clear, sunny afternoon off the coast of the tourist community of Tofino.

In addition to the five dead, one person is still unaccounted for.  The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre has confirmed that 21 people have been rescued after the vessel sent a mayday call shortly before 4 pm, Pacific time.

The search for the missing person continued through the night, with the RCMP now heading up the effort.

Photo courtesy Albert Titian/Facebook