The Latest on a dive boat on fire off the coast of California (all times local):
9:35 a.m.
A fire official says there are confirmed fatalities as rescue crews continue their search after a boat caught fire off the coast of Southern California.
Ventura County Fire Capt. Brian McGrath tells The Associated Press that they have confirmed “some fatalities” after Monday morning’s fire near Santa Cruz Island. He would not provide a specific number.
Coast Guard officials said five crew members were awake when the fire broke out aboard the 75-foot (23-meter) commercial diving vessel and were able to jump into the water. Others are believed to have been asleep below deck.
The Coast Guard says a search and rescue operation is still underway.
The Coast Guard statement says fire department crews were fighting the flames when the vessel sank 20 yards (18 meters) off shore.
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9:15 a.m.
The Coast Guard says 34 people are missing after a fire broke out aboard a dive boat off the coast of Southern California.
Earlier, authorities said they were searching 33.
Five people were rescued and Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Kroll told The Associated Press the Coast Guard was searching for others who may have been able to escape the fire by jumping from the boat. A statement by the agency says they were evacuated aboard a passing good Samaritan pleasure craft. Two of the crew suffered minor injuries.
The Coast Guard statement says fire department crews were fighting the flames when the vessel sank 20 yards (18 meters) off shore in 64 feet (19.5 meters) of water. A portion of the bow is sticking out of the water.
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8:36 a.m.
The Coast Guard says 33 people are missing after a fire broke out aboard a dive boat off the coast of Southern California.
Earlier, authorities said they were searching for 34.
Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Kroll of the U.S. Coast Guard said five crewmembers sleeping on the top deck of the 75-foot (20-meter) commercial scuba diving vessel were rescued. A statement by the agency says they were evacuated aboard a passing good Samaritan pleasure craft. One of the crew suffered minor injuries.
The Coast Guard statement says fire department crews were fighting the flames when the vessel sank 20 yards (18 meters) off shore in 64 feet (19.5 meters) of water. A portion of the bow is sticking out of the water.
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8:35 a.m.
The dive boat where a fire broke out before dawn Monday morning was on a Labor Day weekend cruise taking divers to the Channel Islands off the coast of Southern California.
The vessel Conception was operated by Santa Barbara-based Worldwide Diving Adventures, which says on its website it has been operating such expeditions since 1972.
This weekend trip had departed at 4 a.m. Saturday with plans to return at 5 p.m. Monday.
It was outfitted with dozens of small berths for people to sleep in overnight.
The trip promised multiple opportunities to see colorful coral and a variety of marine life.
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Some people have died and rescuers were searching for 34 more Monday morning after a fire broke out aboard a dive boat off the Southern California Coast.
Capt. Brian McGrath of the Ventura County Fire Department confirmed some deaths to The Daily Beast but said he could not give an exact number.
Five crewmembers sleeping on the top deck of the 75-foot (20-meter) commercial scuba diving vessel were rescued, according to Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Kroll of the U.S. Coast Guard. But he said 34 passengers who were sleeping below deck have not been accounted for.
One of the crew suffered minor injuries.
The Coast Guard has helicopters, small boats and a patrol cutter in the area for a search-and-rescue operation off of Santa Cruz Island, about 90 miles (140 kilometers) from Los Angeles.
The Ventura County Fire Department said on Twitter that it responded to the fire around 3:30 a.m.
It’s not clear how many people were on the boat, but the Coast Guard earlier said that more than 30 people were “in distress.”
