Five people on board a boat have died after it collided with a whale off New Zealand's South Island.
According to Radio New Zealand, the boat capsized after allegedly hitting a whale. There were 11 people in the boat.
Officials say that emergency services workers have recovered the bodies of five people while six people have been rescued. The captain of the boat is also safe.
Police have said that the boat overturned after 'hitting' but it is not confirmed what the boat hit.
Police said they are trying to determine the cause of the incident.
Mayor Craig McCall says the sea was calm and there was no flooding.
He said there were also toothed sperm whales and some humpback whales in the area.
"The whales are in the South Island and they come right up to the harbour," Craig Mackel added.
Kaikoura is a popular tourist destination for whale watching.
Richard Hill, a local hotel owner, said he had worked with the boat's captain and he was a responsible person.
He said that he did not think that the captain would have taken any risk. "This is a sad and shocking day for Kikora."
