Canadian Forces suspend search for 6 missing people, RCMP take over operation

The military and RCMP say four people were taken to Sea Island Coast Guard Station before being transferred to emergency health services. 

The Canadian Armed Forces say they’ve suspended their search and rescue for six people still missing in the waters off the coast of Greater Vancouver and turned the operation over to RCMP.

The military, with help from the RCMP and BC Ferries, launched a massive search after a charter boat sank off the coast of Richmond, B.C.

Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Victoria was notified by a civilian vessel at about 11:45 a.m. Sunday that there were several people in the water without personal flotation devices approximately 10 nautical miles southwest of Vancouver International Airport.

It’s believed 10 people were on board the vessel when it began taking on water, RCMP said in a statement late Sunday.

A Cormorant helicopter and Kingfisher aircraft were dispatched, with the Canadian Coast Guard Hovercraft Siyay and Main lifeboat station Ganges also sent. RCMSAR auxiliary stations 6, 7, 8 and BC Ferries vessels were also dispatched to help in the search and rescue operation.

By 1:15 p.m., the military and RCMP say four people had been taken to Sea Island Coast Guard Station before being transferred to emergency health services.

The search continued for the six people believed still in the water, but CAF says that at 9:45 p.m., a decision was made to suspend the search and rescue operation. They then transitioned the operation to RCMP.

Witness Sarah Blyth-Gerszak told Global News on Sunday that the initial response to the emergency was big.

“They just called all the boats to the area to come and look into the ocean to see what we could see,” she said.

“And, so yeah, obviously, it’s a terrible thing to think that there’s people in the ocean. And all you can hope is that someone can see something and that someone would be rescued.”

The cause of the sinking is under investigation.

Global News has contacted RCMP for further details.