NEED TO KNOW

A humpback whale unexpectedly surfaced near Vancouver, causing a whale-watching vessel to stop abruptly

Several passengers sustained minor injuries; four were hospitalized following the sudden maneuver

Authorities are monitoring the area for whale safety amid rising vessel traffic and high whale density

A whale-watching excursion near Vancouver, Canada, took a sudden turn when a humpback whale unexpectedly surfaced in the vessel's path.

On Thursday, Oct. 23, according to the company, as reported by CBC , the crew members of Prince of Whales Adventures made a “decisive” maneuver to avoid the massive mammal and were able to stop almost immediately.

“Although the vessel was able to stop almost immediately, there was minimal contact with the whale during the maneuver,” the

See Full Page