Bodies have been found after a boat was destroyed by a fire off the coast of California. US Coast Guards have said now nine people are missing, the five crew members have survived.
The boat fire started in the early morning of Monday local time, the boat was located metres off Santa Cruise Island, California. The boat was called ‘The Conception’ and was a diving boat which is now submerged. The cause of the fire is currently unknown. When the fire started there was 39 people on the boat, there was 5 crew members and 34 passengers who were below deck.
The four bodies which were first discovered had injuries relating to drowning, Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Matthew Kroll said.
The four crew members and the captain had been awake on the upper deck and were able to escape by jumping onto an inflatable boat.
Records show inspections of the Conception conducted last February and in August 2018 found no deficiencies.
#CoastInc: @VCFD responded to boat fire off the north side of Santa Cruz Island at approximately 3:28am. @USCG helping support rescue operations for people aboard a dive boat. #ChannelIslands @USCGLosAngeles @CountyVentura @SBCOUNTYFIRE pic.twitter.com/DwoPGfBjtA
— VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) September 2, 2019
