5 killed as whale-watching boat sank in Canada were British

Five people killed when a whale-watching vessel sank off Canada's Pacific coast were all British, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said Monday.

A total of 21 people were rescued in the incident near Vancouver Island on Sunday, coastguards said.

"It is with deep sadness that I can confirm five British nationals have lost their lives when the whale-watching boat they were on sank off western Canada on Sunday," Hammond said in a statement released by the Foreign Office.

"My thoughts are with the family and friends of all those affected by this terrible accident."

The boat, Leviathan II, was around 12 kilometres (seven miles) off Tofino, a resort town on the western edge of Vancouver Island, when a distress call was received at around 5 pm (0000 GMT) saying that the ship was sinking.

The 20-meter (65-foot) cruise vessel was owned by Jamie's Whaling Station and Adventure Centres of Tofino.

Source: AFP