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33 bodies recovered after boat fire off Ventura County coast, 1 still missing

Posted at 8:09 AM, Sep 04, 2019
and last updated 2019-09-04 11:09:41-04

SANTA BARBARA (AP) -- Authorities say they have recovered the bodies of 33 people who died in the scuba diving boat fire that happened off the coast of Southern California.

Coast Guard Lt. Zach Farrell said Wednesday that 13 bodies were recovered Tuesday and that one person is still missing.

Farrell spoke on behalf of an interagency joint information center representing local, county, state and federal officials.

The boat caught fire before dawn on Monday. Authorities previously said 34 people aboard who were below decks sleeping were presumed dead and that five crew members including the captain escaped.