California firefighters have reported some deaths in a fire on a boat carrying dozens of people off the coast of Southern California, US media reported.
The United States Coast Guard and firefighters responded early on Monday to a fire on a dive boat near Santa Cruz Island, which is off the coast of Santa Barbara.
The Daily Beast quoted Captain Brian McGrath of the Ventura County Fire Department as saying that there were deaths. But McGrath said he could not give a number because the coastguard was still searching the water.
Matthew Kroll of the US Coast Guard said five crew members sleeping on the 75-foot (23-metre) boat’s top deck were rescued early morning near Santa Cruz Island. The island is about 90 miles (145km) from Los Angeles. One of the crew suffered minor injuries.
Kroll said 34 passengers who were sleeping below deck have not been accounted for.
The coastguard in Los Angeles said earlier that more than 30 people were “in distress” on board the boat.
“A group of crew members has been rescued [ones with minor injuries] and efforts continue to evacuate the remaining passengers,” the coastguard tweeted early on Monday.
“The vessel was reported as being on fire,” it said.
BREAKING NEWS: The Coast Guard has launched multiple rescue assets along with assets from local agencies to assist more than 30 people in distress on a 75ft boat near Santa Cruz Island. More details will be available later as this operation continues.
— USCG Los Angeles (@USCGLosAngeles) September 2, 2019
According to US media, the boat is a commercial scuba diving vessel. It was unclear who owned it or what started the fire.