Last victim of Conception dive boat fire located
All victims of the dive boat Conception fire have been found.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said on Wednesday that the last victim of the Conception dive boat fire was located during search and recovery efforts at the site where the boat sank.
“The Conception Incident Unified Command is relieved to report that search and recovery efforts today were successful in locating the last missing victim,” the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said in a tweet.
The Conception Incident Unified Command is relieved to report that search and recovery efforts today were successful in locating the last missing victim. DNA testing is still being conducted to confirm identities of 7 of the 34 victims recovered.#conception
— SB Sheriff’s Office (@sbsheriff) September 11, 2019
The boat erupted in flames in the early morning hours of Sept. 2 just off the coast of Santa Cruz Island.
39 people were aboard the boat which was offering a Labor Day diving trip to divers from across the country. 34 people died when they were stuck below the deck as the fire broke. Five people, all crew members were rescued aboard a Good Samaritan vessel.
Seven people, including the person recovered Wednesday, have yet to be identified. The sheriff’s office is utilizing “rapid DNA” testing using familial samples to positively identify each person.
Friends of Berenice Felipe, one of the people confirmed to have perished in the fire, told our newsroom earlier this week that her body was the last to be recovered from the wreckage. Felipe joined the weekend boat trip as part of a birthday celebration for her best friend, 17-year-old Tia Salika. Tia Salika and her parents, Steve Salika and Diana Adamic, were all killed in the fire.
Salvage operations are still underway for the boat.
The circumstances of the fire are under investigation by the Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board. A criminal probe is underway as well, as investigators look to determine if negligence or anything criminal contributed to the tragic fire.
Watch the Conception Vigil here:
