UPDATED: Dead NY yacht victims all children

OYSTER BAY, N.Y. (AP) — Police say three bodies pulled out of New York's Long Island Sound after a yacht capsized on the Fourth of July were all children.

The bodies of the 12-year-old boy and two girls, ages 11 and 8, were recovered from the boat's cabin.

Twenty-four other people were rescued, and were treated and released.

The three dead were recovered from the water near Oyster Bay after a long overnight search, said Nassau County Deputy Inspector Kenneth Lack.

"Tragically three people were killed in this boating accident," he told reporters. "We are not giving out the ages right now."

Preliminary causes for the accident "could be a combination of the weather and a wake from another vessel," Lack said. He said investigators will be looking at possible overcrowding on the vessel.

He said the first body was found shortly after the 911 call came in at 10:10 p.m. on Wednesday, and the two others were found later inside the yacht.

He said the operation took a long time because "at night in an area like this, it is very dangerous.

"It was a lot of people in the water. It was a tremendous response from all the agencies," Lack said. "Most people were taken aboard other crafts very quickly."

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Anthony Kozak said the Silverton yacht was submerged.

Some survivors were taken to a yacht club.

Lack said some but not all passengers onboard the 34-foot boat had been wearing life jackets.

"We believe they were out looking at fireworks" he said.