"There are fatalities involved and survivors. We are also conducting a search to confirm that we have recovered everybody," said the Joint Rescue Victoria Coordination Centre in Tofino, British Columbia, as quoted by Reuters.
At least 3 have been killed and four more sent to hospital, while 5 others were being treated, local CKNW radio station reported citing medical workers.
"Multiple but we don't yet have a firm number. Still a very fluid situation so we really are not sure yet," British Columbia Coroner spokeswoman Barb McLintock told AP in an email.
Rescue center said that the vessel had made a mayday call shortly before 4 pm local time.
#CCG-GCC vessels from Tofino rescuing survivors of sunken whale watching vesselโ DFO Pacific (@DFO_Pacific) October 26, 2015
The vessel was operated by a local company, Jamie's Whaling Station and Adventure Centres, which offers whale-watching tours popular in the area.
"They were going into one of the worst spots around #Tofino today" says Hilbert b/c of big seas/tides re: fatal whale watch boat sinking โ Shelby Thom (@ShelbyThom980) October 26, 2015
Real time vessel tracker off the coast of #Tofino. Aqua blue arrows are @CCG_GCC vessels Cape Ann & Cape McKay pic.twitter.com/zNHtJf7FVq โ shane woodford (@WoodfordCKNW980) October 26, 2015
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