Washington, Sep 2 (IANS) At least 30 people were trapped on a burning boat off the coast of southern California on Monday, with unconfirmed reports of casualties and a rescue operation underway, media reports said.

Santa Barbara County Fire Department said it received a mayday call of the 75-foot dive boat in distress off the Channel Islands at 3.30 a.m. (local time).

The US Coast Guard launched several boats to help more than 30 people "in distress" off the coast of southern California.

Tweets from the Coast Guard in Los Angeles said "there were reports the people were on a boat that was on fire near Santa Cruz Island".

--IANS soni/