Collision with a whale? Boat accident near New Zealand claimed five lives – Topky.sk

Kaikoura Mayor Craig Mackle said marine mammals are native to the area and the sea was completely calm at the time of the disaster, the New Zealand Herald quoted him as saying. According to Mackle, sperm whales and minnows are appearing near the coast. The police did not want to confirm this information, but emphasized that the boat must have collided with something. First she wanted to interview the witnesses. Photo Gallery (3) An aerial view shows the lifeboat approaching the overturned boat.
Source: SITA/TVNZ via AP The group is said to have been on a birding excursion, traveling from all over New Zealand to bird watch. The authorities spoke of an unprecedented tragedy. The charter boat capsized in the morning (local time). Police divers later found the bodies in the overturned boat. Those who survived the crash were initially taken to hospital but have since been released. One person suffered minor injuries, it said. New Zealand’s maritime authority Maritime NZ now wants to launch a further investigation into the cause of the accident. Among other things, it should be clarified whether the small boat was possibly overloaded. Two investigators from Christchurch were sent to the scene of the accident. Photo gallery (3) Illustration photo
Source: Getty Images Tracy Phillips, Maritime NZ’s chief investigator, said: “Any investigative work will only begin once salvage operations have been completed. We will conduct a thorough investigation under the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Maritime Transport Act and will do everything we can to assist the New Zealand Police in their investigation.”