By Kevin Tripp, KABC
Officials now say as many as 34 people may have died in a horrific boat fire off the coast of Southern California. Eight bodies have either been spotted or recovered and 26 are still missing
Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown says they’ve recovered four bodies from the boat.
“We can only identify them at this point as two adult males and two adult females.”
He says rescue crews spotted additional bodies on the ocean floor near the sunken diving boat. The ship caught fire just after three a.m. Monday off the coast of Santa Cruz Island. Five crew members were able to escape. The sheriff says DNA testing will need to be conducted to identify the victims. County and Federal prosecutors are now involved. Coast Guard Captain Monica Rochester says they’re still searching.
”But I think we all should all be prepared to move into the worst outcome.”
The boat and many bodies now rest on the ocean floor, now Santa Barbara County Sheriff and Coroner Bill Brown says the grim task is so big that he’s asking for help.
”And have received support from the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office and from the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office, as well.”
As many as 34 people may have died. The boat caught fire and sank Monday morning off the coast of Santa Cruz Island, which is south of Santa Barbara and west Ventura. Of the 39 people on board, five survived, four bodies were recovered, four more bodies were spotted on the ocean floor and 26 remain missing. A cause of the fire has not been determined.