BREAKING: Ten People Missing After Deadly New Jersey Motel Fire

by JASmius

One person is dead after fire destroyed a motel at the Jersey shore.

The fire started around 5:30 a.m. Friday at the popular Mariner's Cove Motor Inn in Point Pleasant Beach. It took firefighters several hours to get the blaze under control.
Ten people are unaccounted for after a fire that destroyed a motel at the Jersey shore, killing three people, authorities said Friday.

Firefighters responded to the Mariner's Cove Motor Inn in Point Pleasant Beach just after 5:30 a.m. Friday.Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato said three males died in the blaze and eight people were injured. Several of the injured sustained serious burns, including one woman who was rescued by firefighters after she holed up in a shower to escape smoke and flames.

Coronato said the search and recovery phase of the investigation will continue until officials are certain they've accounted for the approximately 40 people who were registered at the motel.

Assistant Ocean County Fire Marshal Ed Hazelton tells the Star-Ledger of Newark a resident of the motel died and a sheriff's officer was injured.

The motel was completely gutted and lost its roof.

No word yet on what sparked the fire.