On Saturday, a fishing charter vessel capsized off the coast of Kaikura, New Zealand, killing five persons, officials revealed.
The approximately 28-foot-long vessel capsized around 10:00 a.m. Local time, according to the New Zealand Herald. It carried 11 passengers. Five bodies were retrieved by a dive crew, while six survivors were rescued.
Bird enthusiasts from throughout New Zealand are said to have chartered the boat to explore the area.
The police are currently investigating the accident’s cause, but it appears like the boat crashed with something. Sergeant Matt Boyce described it as “unprecedented,” as reported by the Herald.
—nzherald (@nzherald)
September 10, 2022
Radio New Zealand reported that the mayor of Kaikura, Craig Mackle, stated earlier in the day that it looked the boat collided with a whale that surfaced from below.
The Herald said that he stated the water conditions were “excellent and flat” and that whales have been spotted in the region.
Kaikura is a prominent whale-watching spot located on the eastern coast of New Zealand’s South Island, approximately 180 kilometers northwest of Christchurch.