Efforts are continuing to try to account for more than 30 people on board an excursion boat which caught on fire, and sank in the Channel Islands. As of 8 a.m., the Coast Guard reports 33 people are considered missing.
A distress call went out just before 4 a.m. Monday of a craft in distress near Santa Cruz Island. Coast Guard officials say they heard the call, and immediately dispatched two helicopters, and a Coast Guard cutter. Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties also deployed firefighting and rescue resources.
Some nearby boats were the first to reach the scene, and to start to rescue people. A half dozen crew members were reported rescued, two two suffering minor leg injuries. Firefighters found the boat fully involved in flames, and say it was a total loss.
KCLU's John Palminteri is reporting the boat was the Conception, a popular Santa barBara based boat used for fishing and diving excursions.
At least one body has been recovered, and brought to Channel Islands Harbor.
