Allegedly Collided With The Pope, The Opposite Tourist Ship And Killed 5 Passengers

salingTON - Five people died and six others were rescued on the South Island near the city of Kaikōura, New Zealand. The ship they were riding was suspected of having a collision with a whale.

Quoted from the Washington Post, Saturday, September 10, the police said the boat was 8.5 meters (28 feet) long overturned. Police said they were continuing to investigate the cause of the accident.

Kaikōura Police Sergeant Matt Boyce described the devastating event as unprecedented.

"Our thoughts are with everyone involved, including the victims and their families, their local communities, and emergency service personnel," Boyce said.

He said police divers had found the bodies of all those who had died. He said the six survivors were judged to be in stable condition at a local health center, with one being transferred to a hospital in the town of Christchurch as a follow-up.

Kaikōura Mayor Craig Mackle said the water was calm at the time of the accident and it was suspected that a whale had emerged from under the boat.

He said there were several sperm whales in the area as well as several cross-pedek whales passing by.

Local residents have been helping with rescue efforts throughout the day. But because the water is very cold, they are worried about the condition of anyone falling into the sea.

Mackle said the ship was a chartered ship that is usually used for fishing tours. Stuff news agency reported that the passengers belonged to a group of bird enthusiasts.

Police said they were still telling their relatives who died, and could not publicly state the names of the victims.

He said two rescue helicopters and helicopters circled before two divers jumped out.

Kaikōura is a tourist destination to observe popular whales. The seabed dropped drastically from the coast, making deep waters close to the coast.