According to the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), the ship got into trouble around midnight on Sunday night and Monday on the St. Lawrence River, about 25 kilometers from La Tabatière, a village southwest of Blanc-Sand.

“It is known that there were six people inside, all of whom were recovered by the Canadian Coast Guard at approximately 7:30 a.m. (Monday morning). “Unfortunately three people have died and three people are still alive,” said SQ spokesman Sergeant Hugues Beaulieu.

For its part, the Canadian Coast Guard said it received a distress signal from the ship Silver Condor at 2:39 a.m. Monday.

“The CCGS Cape Edensaw and Rescue 901, a Department of Defense Cormorant, were tasked with the search. In addition, Coast Guard Auxiliary Carly M Paige and three vessels of opportunity also participated in the search,” Émilie Proteau-Beaulieu, Coast Guard communications advisor, said by email.

The people on the ship were reportedly transported to hospitals in Newfoundland, Labrador and New Brunswick following their rescue. No update on the conditions of the three survivors could be obtained early Monday evening, but they were reportedly conscious when taken to hospital.

The cause of the sinking will be the subject of multi-jurisdictional investigations. At first glance, however, the file contained no criminal aspect, according to the SQ.

A coroner will be tasked with determining the exact causes of death, while the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the Commission on Standards, Equity, Health and Safety at Work of Quebec could also be involved.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) would also have a role in the matter, but federal police did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Canadian Press.