(CNN) At least eight people died after an overnight fire destroyed about 35 boats docked in an Alabama lake, authorities said Monday.

Seven others swam to safety or were rescued from the Jackson County Park Marina at Guntersville Lake on the Tennessee River, some 100 miles northeast of Birmingham.

Authorities said late Monday afternoon that it appears everyone is accounted for, although that will not be finalized until all the boats have been removed from the water and inspected.

They earlier thought as many as nine people were unaccounted for, the Scottsboro Fire Department said.

It was difficult to account for all the occupants of the boats since some left in private vehicles. Also, authorities struggled to determine "how many people were staying with who," Scottsboro Fire Chief Gene Necklaus said.

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