At least 15 people were rushed to hospital, including two children, after a charter boat exploded while out in waters near Haulover Sandbar in Biscayne Bay, Miami, Florida
A terrifying boat explosion at a tourist hotspot has resulted in 15 people being rushed to hospital, including two children, with one eyewitness stating the blast flung several into the sea before the vessel was consumed by flames.
US authorities have declared a “level two mass casualty event” after more than two dozen rescue units were dispatched to waters off the coast of Miami to aid those injured in the explosion. One child is receiving treatment for burns that cover 18% of his body. An adult is also known to be in hospital with burns enveloping approximately 30% of his skin.
The charter boat was on Biscayne Bay, near the Sunshine State’s renowned Haulover Sandbar, when the explosion took place. According to the Miami Herald, which has obtained audio of the dispatch calls between base and first responders at the scene, there was a state of confusion when rescuers arrived.
The dispatcher attempted to determine how many people were injured, with the firefighter responding: “They keep coming…. we just aren’t sure right now.”
The audio confirmed that multiple people suffered burns. Some were catapulted into the water by the explosion and were rescued by fire-crew lifeboats.
The injured were then hurried to nearby fuel docks to be transported to emergency trauma centres, with some airlifted to hospital. Some were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Centre and Burn Centre, the paper reported.
The Miami Herald confirmed the vessel as a Press Cruiser 400 Express, a 40-foot cabin cruiser named Nauti Nabors, from Texas.
South Florida boat skipper Patrick Lee witnessed the terrifying incident unfold. He was ferrying passengers via his tiki boat to a larger craft, which was anchored out on waters near the Haulover Sandbar, when the blast erupted nearby.
“We saw three people fly out of the boat,” he said. Lee said the vessel was engulfed in flames within minutes, adding that several people were carried away on stretchers by paramedics.
“I just saw a lot of them with burns all over them, and I said that it’s a hot fire,” Lee said. “It is quick, but it’s high octane gasoline, and so a lot of them got burnt, and it was an explosion.”
The boat skipper of more than 50 years suggested to local news that the blast was likely caused by exhaust fans that were not switched on, causing gas fumes to become trapped on board. When the boat ignition was turned over, it triggered the explosion, he speculated. He added he had based his assessment on what he had witnessed and his decades of boating experience.
“[The captain’s] people got on board, he turned the key, didn’t open the hatches, and didn’t turn on the blowers – he blew people out of the boat,” he said.
He added: “That’s the worst thing, [it was totally] preventable. I find most tragedies are from a lack of education. Many people out here shouldn’t be operating boats.” A passenger who was on-board during the blast, Leo, also told the Miami Herald that a gas leak caused the explosion. Leo, who chose not to disclose his surname and was unharmed, added: “It was the worst experience of my life.”
According to dispatch audio logs, fire crews suggested the explosion might have originated from the boat’s fuel tank.
Fire and rescue officials have since issued a public statement, with the boat explosion serving as a stark reminder for the public to “prioritise [their] safety while out on the water”.
In a statement, the Miami fire service advised: “Make sure your vessel is equipped with a working fire extinguisher and all required safety equipment. Before departure, perform a thorough safety check to ensure your boat is in good working condition and free of potential hazards. Taking a few extra precautions can help prevent emergencies and keep everyone safe.”
The explosion and subsequent boat fire are now under official investigation by the authorities, who have yet to determine the cause. The boat’s captain managed to escape the terrifying incident unscathed, both from the blast and the ensuing fire.
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