Six people remain missing after a boat sank in the water near Roberts Bank on Sunday morning.
B.C. RCMP said Sunday evening that six people are unaccounted for as of 7:44 p.m., eight hours after a charter vessel began taking on water around 11:45 a.m. The search is ongoing.
Police say it’s believed that 10 people were on board the vessel when it began taking on water. It was reported to police by another civilian vessel.
A marine search-and-rescue operation was launched by Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Victoria. The search involved RCMP, the Royal Canadian Air Force, Canadian Coast Guard, Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue and BC Ferries.
The search included vessels and aircraft.
RCMP said it has two boats from West Coast Marine Services, the P.V. Lindsay and P.V. Higgitt, assisting. Two helicopters, an RCMP Black Hawk and an H145 Airbus from RCMP Air Services, are also helping in the search.
Four people have been rescued and were taken to hospital for medical treatment.
Police say the cause of the boat sinking is not yet known and it remains under investigation.