An explosion on a boat at a popular tourist destination has resulted in 15 people being taken to the hospital, including two children. Witness reports indicate that the blast threw several individuals into the sea before the vessel caught fire.
Authorities in the United States have classified the incident as a “level two mass casualty event,” prompting the dispatch of over two dozen rescue units to the waters near Miami to assist those affected by the explosion.
Among the injured, one child is being treated for 18% burns on his body, while an adult has sustained burns covering approximately 30% of their skin.
The charter boat was operating on Biscayne Bay, close to the well-known Haulover Sandbar in Florida when the explosion occurred. According to the Miami Herald, audio recordings of communication between responders reveal a chaotic situation upon their arrival at the scene.
Rescuers were initially uncertain about the number of injured individuals, with a firefighter reporting, “They keep coming… we just aren’t sure right now.”
Multiple people suffered burns as confirmed by the audio recordings, with some being thrown into the water by the explosion and subsequently rescued by fire-crew lifeboats.
The injured were swiftly transported to nearby fuel docks for further transfer to emergency trauma centers, with some requiring airlifts to hospitals. Some were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Centre and Burn Centre, as reported.
The Miami Herald identified the boat as a Press Cruiser 400 Express named Nauti Nabors from Texas. Witnessing the incident, South Florida boat captain Patrick Lee described the harrowing events as he shuttled passengers on his tiki boat near the Haulover Sandbar.
Lee recounted seeing people ejected from the boat and the rapid engulfment of the vessel in flames, with several individuals being attended to by paramedics.
He suggested that the explosion likely stemmed from exhaust fans not being activated, causing a buildup of gas fumes onboard. Lee emphasized the importance of proper safety measures on boats to prevent such tragedies.
A passenger named Leo, who was aboard during the blast, attributed the explosion to a gas leak, describing it as the worst experience of his life.
Fire crews indicated that the explosion may have originated from the boat’s fuel tank, prompting safety reminders from fire and rescue officials for boaters to prioritize safety measures while on the water.
The incident is currently under investigation by authorities to determine the exact cause of the explosion. The boat’s captain escaped unscathed from both the blast and subsequent fire.