'Devastating' Fire in Alabama Riverboat Community Kills at Least 2, Injures 7: Reports

An early morning fire erupted along the Tennessee River in Alabama Monday, killing at least two people and injuring seven more, according to multiple reports.

The blaze broke out just after midnight as people in the Jackson County Park riverboat community in Scottsboro slept, leaving nine people unaccounted for, Scottsboro Fire Chief Gene Mecklaus toldCBS News.

Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy Rocky Harnen told CBS affiliateWHNTthat authorities expected to have fatalities, and so far, two people have been confirmed dead.

An additional seven people were injured in the fire, and transported to local hospitals, Necklaus told ABC News.

Some of the injuries came from victims jumping into the water as a means of escape, while other injuries came from the flames, theAssociated Pressreported.

The blaze reportedly gobbled up a wooden dock and an aluminum roof that was a cover to many of the boats, and in doing so cut off escape routes and sent debris flying into the water.

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Thirty-five boats docked along the water were also reportedly destroyed.

“We woke up hearing screams and popping noises. When we woke up, we could see red through the window. Within 15 to 20 minutes, the whole dock was in flames. All these boats have propane tanks and gas tanks, and that’s a lot of fire,” she said. “Water was the only place they had to go. It’s just extremely sad. It’s horrible.”

“Everybody is just hoping to find the ones they knew on that dock,” she said. “There were families there. It’s devastating.”

The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

Neither Necklaus nor a spokesperson for the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office immediately responded to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

source: people.com