U.S. Coast Guard Searches For Dozens Missing After Diving Boat Catches Fire

Updated, 12:30 p.m. ET:

The U.S. Coast Guard launched a rescue operation to save 34 people after a boat caught fire near Santa Cruz Island, Calif., early Monday.

Five crew members have been rescued.

The vessel was identified as the Conception, based out of Santa Barbara Harbor, and was on a three-day dive trip to the island, Mike Eliason, a Santa Barbara Fire Department spokesman, tweeted.

Families and friends of the victims began arriving at Coast Guard Station Channel Islands Harbor hours after the blaze had fully destroyed the commercial boat. They desperately are trying to get information about missing loved ones.

One of the first to arrive was James Coles, who says his 58-year-old brother, a long time surfer, had worked as a cook on the boat for about a year.

"I haven't been able to get a hold of his cell phone or nothing, you know," Coles said. "I'm very concerned and I hope the best for everybody on there."

U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Monica Rochester said surviving crew members were "already awake and on the bridge, and they jumped off" at the time of the fire. The rest of the passengers are believed to have been asleep, below deck, when the flames broke out.

The 75-foot yacht became engulfed in flames sometime around 3 a.m. PT. Nearby civilian boats first reached the scene to help rescue people after hearing mayday calls.

The Conception eventually sank approximately 20 yards off shore in 64 feet of water, according to a Coast Guard statement.

"The vessel was reported as being on fire," the Coast Guard said in a tweet, adding that crew members working on the 75-foot boat have been rescued.

In an interview with Los Angeles TV station KTLA, Coast Guard Petty Officer Mark Barney said two of the crew members had suffered minor leg injuries. He said that rescue agencies actively were searching for dozens of passengers from the ship as well as a missing crew member, using both aircraft and surface ships, but that the effort was hampered by dense early morning fog.

Multiple rescue agencies are involved the operation to assist people in "distress," Coast Guard officials said. But it was a Good Samaritan pleasure craft called Grape Escape that helped evacuate the five crew members.

Santa Cruz Island is about 18 miles from the mainland and about 60 miles west of Los Angeles.

This is a developing story. Some things that get reported by the media may later turn out to be wrong. We will focus on reports from police officials and other authorities, credible news outlets and reporters who are at the scene. We will update as the situation develops.

Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.