Six people are presumed drowned after a charter boat sank in the Strait of Georgia off the coast of British Columbia [1].

The incident underscores the critical danger of operating without proper safety equipment in open waters, as several passengers lacked flotation devices during the sinking [2].

The vessel was traveling toward Saturna Island on Sunday, June 28, when it went down [3]. Of the 10 passengers on board, four were rescued by passersby [4]. Authorities suspended the search for the remaining individuals on Monday, June 29 [3].

"Four men and two women remain unaccounted for and are presumed drowned," said a Richmond RCMP spokesperson [5].

The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre and the Richmond RCMP led the response efforts. Maj. Gregory Clarke of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre said there may not have been any survivors after a charter boat sank [6], though other reports confirmed the rescue of four individuals [4].

The tragedy has prompted local calls for stricter adherence to maritime safety protocols. Brian Angus said, "Wear your life-jacket" [7].

Investigators are working to determine the exact cause of the sinking. The Strait of Georgia is a frequent route for charter vessels, but the lack of life jackets for all passengers contributed to the high fatality rate [2].

“"Four men and two women remain unaccounted for and are presumed drowned,"”

This incident highlights a recurring safety gap in regional charter operations where passengers may not be consistently provided with or encouraged to use personal flotation devices. The fact that four survivors were saved by passersby rather than official rescue teams suggests that immediate bystander intervention is often the primary factor in survival during rapid sinkings in the Strait of Georgia.