The search for six people believed missing in the water without lifejackets in the Strait of Georgia was suspended Sunday evening, according to B.C.’s lead search-and-rescue centre.

The Victoria Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC)’s regional search and rescue commander made the decision to suspend the search and rescue operation at 9:45 p.m. PT, according to an emailed statement from Cpt. Pedram Mohyeddin, a public affairs officer for Maritime Forces Pacific.

“The response to the event was then handed over to the RCMP,” Mohyeddin said.

RCMP said on Sunday they believe 10 people were on board a charter boat that sank off the coast of Richmond, B.C., earlier that day around 11:45 a.m. PT. Four were rescued, but six remain missing.

The vessel began taking on water near Roberts Bank, in the Strait of Georgia, about 10 nautical miles southwest of Vancouver Airport, according to RCMP.

The B.C. RCMP has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Two civilians, Brian Angus and Dorothy Stauffer, were on their sailboat when they saw five people in the water.

They called in a mayday and said they were able to get three of the five people onto a dinghy.

B.C.’s Attorney General Niki Sharma addressed the incident at an unrelated news conference Monday and said an investigation is underway.

“We’re all shocked by hearing what happened,” Sharma said.

More details will be provided when they are available, she added.