Five people have died after a boat capsized off the coast of New Zealand after it was believed to have capsized by a whale.
Six people survived the incident, near the South Island town of Kaikoura, on Saturday.
Their condition is stable, with five being evaluated at a local medical center and a sixth being transferred to a hospital in Christchurch as a precaution, Kaikoura police sergeant Matt Boyce said.
“Our thoughts are with all those involved, including the victims and their families, their local communities and emergency services personnel,” he said.
The town’s mayor, Craig Mackle, told reporters the water was calm at the time and assumed a whale had emerged from underneath the boat.
Sperm whales and humpback whales regularly move through the area, he added.
He said he had previously thought of the possibility of a boat-whale collision given the frequent number of whales in the area.
“You always think that can happen,” Mr. Mackle said.
Police divers recovered the bodies of the dead, with three helicopters participating in the rescue of survivors.
Kaikoura is a popular whale-watching destination, as the seafloor rapidly drops off the coast, with deep waters attracting whales.
Many businesses offer boat or helicopter trips for whale watching.
Mr Mackle said the boat appeared to be a chartered vessel filled with bird watchers.
