At least 34 people are feared dead after a 75ft boat burst into flames off the coast of California.
The fire is thought to have broken out just before 4am (11am GMT) this morning near Santa Cruz Island, close to Los Angeles.
According to reports, five crew members managed to escape the vessel while one is being treated for a broken leg.
The rest remain “unaccounted for”.
Emergency services are at the scene and are
attempting to put out the fire.
The Coastguard wrote on Twitter: “The Coast Guard has launched multiple rescue assets along with assets from local agencies to assist more than 30 people in distress on a 75ft boat near Santa Cruz Island.”
Ventura County officials say multiple people have died but the US Coast Guard is yet to confirm fatalities.
Jen Buesinger Sperry, a Good Day LA reporter, is calling it a “mass fatality” incident.
She wrote: “34 fatalities per Ventura County Fire.”
Source: The Mirror
