Five Britons Dead After Whale-Watching Boat Sinks Off Coast of British Columbia

A search was called off last night after a whale-watching boat carrying 27 people capsized off the western coast of Vancouver Island on Sunday, killing at least five British passengers.

One person is still missing, according to various reports. The 65-foot Leviathan II vessel run by Jamie's Whaling Station sent a mayday call around 5 pm local time about six miles from Tofino, a popular surfer town, mobilizing members of the Ahousaht First Nation, who responded to the scene. Other nearby boats and coast guards rushed to the distress signal, and a military helicopter was also dispatched, Reuters reported.

Twenty-one people had been rescued when the search was called off late at night, Melissa Kai, a spokeswoman for the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC), told the news agency.

The case had now been turned over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as a missing persons case, Reuters reported. Canada's Transportation Safety Board is also investigating.

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond confirmed the nationality of the deceased in a statement.

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

Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau also expressed his shock and sadness.

"I know firsthand of this coastal area's natural beauty and the many people who visit here from all around the world," he said in a statement Monday. "My thoughts and prayers are with the passengers, the crew, and their families at this most difficult time. We will continue to offer them support in the days ahead."

Alec Dick, one of the first on the scene with the Ahousaht First Nation, told Global News that when the local boats arrived, they found the Leviathan's bow sticking out of the water, people in rafts, others in the water, and cries for help.

"Whatever happened happened so quick … They must have gotten swamped by a huge wave and flipped their boat," he said. "This time of the year we do have big surges happening on the water."

It has been a tragic day. Our team is heartbroken & our hearts go out to the families, friends & loved ones involved — JamiesWhaleWatching (@jamieswhaling)October 26, 2015

TSB deploying a team of investigators to a marine accident in Tofino, BC — TSB of Canada (@TSBCanada)October 26, 2015

Whale watching draws tourists from the around the world to pretty Tofino, and the boat capsized near Vargas Island Provincial Park, which is a popular spot to see the giant creatures. Tofino is also known as a good spot to watch storms roll in, especially in the winter months, but local resident Chris McLellan said it was a calm day on the water on Sunday. "It's not stormy, not even windy," he told Global News.