A Canadian ferry carrying 99 passengers apparently struck a rock and sank near Gil Island, British Columbia, on Wednesday. All 99 passengers were rescued and are reported safe.
The boat known as The Queen of the North struck the rock at approximately 12:43 AM PST on Wednesday. The incident took place about 75 miles south of Prince Rupert as the boat sailed though the Inside Passage on the northwest coast of British Columbia. Rescuers arrived on the scene by 2:15 AM local time.
The passengers and crew were rescued before the boat became completely submerged.
'We were very fortunate in this case. Fate was smiling upon everybody today,' Canadian Forces Major Chuck Grenkow, who assisted in the rescue operation, told the CBC.
The rescued passengers were taken to the aboriginal village of Hartley Bay where residents aided them with blankets and food after they were brought ashore. Residents also used their boats to assist with the rescue according to authorities.
While no major injuries were reported, 11 survivors of the sinking were transported to a local hospital to be treated for stress and minor injuries.
Canadian authorities have launched an official investigation into the cause of the accident. The Queen of the North was built in 1969 and had a significant renovation in 2001.
