VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Canadian authorities say at least three people were dead after a whale watching-boat with 27 people on board sank off Vancouver Island.

Eight people were reported hospitalized. Valerie Wilson, a spokeswoman for Island Health, said of the eight at Tofino General Hospital, seven are stable and one is serious condition, but stable. The hospital is not far from the dock.

The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre confirmed that the vessel made a mayday call shortly before 4 p.m. Sunday near Tofino, British Columbia.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.