Hurriyet.com.tr/INTERNATIONAL NEWS
The incredible moments in New Zealand froze the blood of those who heard it. 5 people lost their lives when the boat they rented suddenly turned upside down. Everyone was stunned when the authorities announced the possible event that caused these terrible moments.
authorities this morning. New ZelandHe said five people were killed after the small rental boat they were on in Istanbul capsized after colliding with a whale. It was announced that 6 people on the boat were rescued.
Police said the 8.5-metre boat overturned near the South Island town of Kaikōura. Police said they are continuing to investigate the cause of the accident.
Kaikōura Police Sergeant Matt Boyce described it as a devastating and unprecedented event.
“Our prayers are with the victims and their families, their local communities, and everyone involved, including emergency service personnel,” Boyce said.
ALL BODY DRAWN FROM WATER, WOUNDS UNDER TREATMENT
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He said police divers found the bodies of all the dead.
Officials said all six survivors were stable at a local health center and one of the injured had been transferred to a hospital in the city of Christchurch as a precaution.
Kaikōura Mayor Craig Mackle told the Associated Press that the water was calm at the time of the accident and that the boat’s overturn may have occurred because a whale surfaced from under the water.
A Whale Slammed the Boat!
Officials said there are some sperm whales in the area and also some humpback whales traveling across the oceans.
Craig Mackle said locals had helped rescue efforts throughout the day, but the mood in the city was ‘gloomy’ because the water was too cold and they feared the fate of anyone who fell into the sea.
Mackle said he considered the possibility of a boat and a whale colliding in the past, given the number of whales that frequent the area.
Adding that he had never heard of such an accident before, he said, “It’s always in the back of our minds that this could happen.”
“SUCH ACCIDENTS ARE VERY POSSIBLE TO HAPPEN HERE”
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Mackle, the boat is typically the fish He said it was a charter boat used for hunting trips.
New Zealand news agency Stuff reported that the passengers belonged to a group of bird enthusiasts.
Police said they are still notifying the relatives of the deceased and have not yet released the names of the victims publicly.
WITNESSES TELL THE THREAT
Eyewitness Vanessa Chapman told Stuff that she and a group of friends watched the rescue efforts from Goose Bay, near Kaikōura.
When she arrived at a lookout point, the woman said she saw a person sitting on an overturned boat and waving her arms. Two rescue helicopters and a third local helicopter also circled above the water, Chapman said, before the two divers jumped into the water.
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Eyewitnesses said they saw the person on the boat being rescued and a second person pulled out of the water.
THE REGION IS A POPULAR Whale WATCHING POINT
New Zealand’s Kaikōura region is a popular whale watching destination. In the region, the seabed rapidly moves away from the shore, forming deep waters close to the shore.
That’s why a number of businesses offer boat trips or helicopter rides so tourists can see whales, dolphins and other sea creatures up close.
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