Dozens feared dead in California dive-boat fire

According to the Coast Guard, 34 people were killed after a fire broke out on a dive boat by the dawn of Monday morning on the coast of Southern California.

Five crew members who jumped from the ship were rescued, and Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Kroll said the coast guard was looking for others to escape in the same way.

But he was afraid that 34 people would die. Coast Guard Minor Mark Barney said two crew members were lightly injured.

Lieutenant Brian McGrath of the Ventura County Fire Department confirmed the death, but said it was not accurate.

Cost Guard Captain Monica Rochester said at a press conference in Oxnard's Channel Islands port, "We are currently conducting a coastline search for possible survivors."

"The staff was already awake and jumped off the bridge," he added. She added that they were rescued by a good Samaritan ship called the Grape Escape.

Rochester asked if the crew tried to help others. "There is no additional information," he said.

Said a woman who came to the harbor. "My son was on that boat."

She was led by a Ventura County firefighter.

Rochester says a 20-meter commercial scuba diving vessel fired about 18 meters off the coast of Santa Cruz Island and the fire ignited around 3 am.

The dive boat concept headed for the Channel Islands on the last day of the Labor Day weekend cruise when a fire broke out.

Barney said, “At 3:15 this morning the Coast Guard listened to Mayday.

This concept was run by Worldwide Diving Adventures, a renowned diving company based in Santa Barbara.

The initiative was to depart at 4 am Saturday and return home at 5 pm Monday.

There are dozens of small beds for people to sleep all night.

This trip promised several opportunities to see gorgeous corals and various marine life.

Source: AP