Turkey offers condolences over California boat fire

ANKARA

Turkey on Tuesday extended condolences to relatives of those who lost their lives in a boat fire off an island in California.

“We are saddened by the loss of many lives and injuries caused by a boat fire off Santa Cruz Island, California,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“We extend our condolences to the relatives of those who lost their lives and to the people of the United States and wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” the statement said.

At least 25 people were killed and nine others went missing after a fire broke out on a boat off Santa Cruz Island in California, authorities said late Monday.

Five crew members were rescued, U.S. Coast Guard's Matthew Kroll said.

The search for nine people who remain unaccounted for is ongoing, Kroll added.

There were 39 people on board the Labor Day weekend cruise taking divers to the Channel Islands.