34 feared dead, 5 rescued from diving boat fire near Santa Cruz Island

At least 34 people were feared dead after a boat caught fire off Santa Cruz Island, California, early Monday morning, officials have confirmed.

The U.S. Coast Guard said it had launched a massive rescue operation after a report that more than 30 people were “in distress.” Pictures show the vessel engulfed by flames as firefighters carried out their rescue. “The fire was so intense that even after it was put out we were not able actually to embark the vessel,” a Coast Guard spokesman said.

Venture County Fire officials confirmed that it had managed to rescue some of the people from the boat but 34 were still missing; they believe some of them have died.

“We did rescue five individuals who are being transported ashore now, one with moderate injury, and there are still 34 unaccounted for,” said Fire Capt. Brian McGrath. “There are fatalities but I can’t give you a number because the Coast Guard is still searching the water.”

The tragedy happened off Santa Cruz Island—the largest of the Channel Islands south of Santa Barbara and west of Los Angeles.

A spokesman for the Coast Guard told CNN that 39 people were on board what is believed to be a commercial dive vessel. All but five of those people were below deck when the fire broke out at 03:14 local time.

A unified command station has been set up at Coast Guard’s Channel Islands harbor as the rescue operations continue.