A charter boat was engulfed in flames after a devastating explosion on-board threw several people into the sea
A terrifying boat blast at a picturesque tourist destination has left 11 people hospitalised, with one witness describing how the explosion hurled several passengers into the sea before flames consumed the charter vessel.
US authorities have subsequently announced a level two mass casualty incident, after emergency crews dispatched over two dozen rescue units to waters off Miami’s coast to aid those hurt in the boat explosion.
The charter vessel was cruising the waters of Biscayne Bay, close to the Sunshine State’s renowned Haulover Sandbar, when the blast happened.
According to the Miami Herald, which had secured audio recordings of dispatch communications between headquarters and emergency responders on scene, chaos reigned when rescue teams arrived.
The dispatcher attempted to establish how many casualties there were, with the firefighter responding: “They keep coming…. we just aren’t sure right now”, reports the Mirror.
The audio confirmed that numerous individuals sustained burns.
Several were hurled into the water by the explosion and were pulled to safety by fire department rescue boats.
Casualties were subsequently rushed to nearby fuel docks for transport to local emergency trauma facilities, including Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Centre and Burn Centre, with some taken by rescue helicopter.
The Miami Herald named the vessel as a Press Cruiser 400 Express, a 40-foot cabin cruiser called Nauti Nabors, from Texas. The captain of the vessel was unhurt.
South Florida boat captain Patrick Lee witnessed the horrific scene unfold. He was ferrying passengers via his tiki boat to a larger vessel, 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 afterward.
“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 captain of more than 50 years theorised to local news that the blast was caused by exhaust fans that were not switched on, causing gas fumes become trapped on board.
When the boat ignition was turned over, it sparked the explosion, he speculated. He added he had based his claim on what he had witnessed, as well as 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 explosion, Leo, told the Miami Herald that a gas leak caused the blast.
Leo, who escaped injury and did not share his surname, stated afterward: “It was the worst experience of my life.”
According to dispatch audio logs, fire crews suggested the explosion may have originated from the boat’s fuel tank.
Fire and rescue officials have since issued a public statement, using the boat explosion 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 formally establish the cause.