15 dead in California boat fire

International Desk: At least 15 died after a boat was destroyed by fire off the coast of California early Monday, US authorities said.

Four bodies have been recovered and five crew of the commercial diving boat Conception escaped the blaze.

The fire started in the early hours of Monday. The boat was anchored just metres off Santa Cruz Island, about 90 miles (145km) west of Los Angeles.

The vessel is now submerged as a search and rescue operation continues.

At a press conference, Sheriff Bill Brown said 39 people were on board the vessel when fire broke out.
The cause of the blaze is so far unknown.

Four bodies have been recovered so far - two male and two female adults, he said.

"The boat remains unstable and we are not sure when we will be able to recover those bodies [on the sea bed] and any more that may be in the vessel," he said.

Source: Agencies
 

risingbd/Sept 3, 2019/Mukul