34 Feared Dead in Boat Blaze Off Calif.

Coast Guard has rescued only 5 after 75-foot boat catches fire off Santa Cruz Island
By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 2, 2019 8:40 AM CDT
34 Feared Dead in Boat Blaze Off Calif.
A US Coast Guard boat patrols San Diego Bay in this file photo from Thursday, July 11, 2019, in Coronado, Calif.   (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

The US Coast Guard responded early Monday to a boat fire off the coast of southern California, and Fox News reports that at least 34 people aboard are feared dead in the flames off Santa Cruz Island. "We did rescue five individuals who are being transported ashore now, one with moderate injury, and there are still 34 unaccounted for," Fire Capt. Brian McGrath tells the Daily Beast. "There are fatalities, but I can't give you a number because the Coast Guard is still searching the water." The Coast Guard said it responded by air and sea and "launched multiple rescue assets along with assets from local agencies to assist more than 30 people in distress on a 75ft boat." Santa Cruz Island is off the coast of Santa Barbara, notes the AP. (More Coast Guard stories.)

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