The Coast Guard states in a statement that 34 people are missing. Five people, crew only, must have been rescued after jumping into the water. All the passengers were asleep under the deck when it started to burn, early on Monday morning. The Ventura County Rescue Service says several people have died in the fire.

While attempts were made to extinguish the fire, the boat sank closer to 20 meters from shore, at 20 meters depth, according to the Coast Guard. Rescue work continues by searching along the coastline for people who may have jumped off the boat.

Passengers should have been on a cruise to dive at the Channel Islands archipelago.