Explosion on Tourist Boat in Florida Leaves 11 Hospitalized
An explosion ripped through a charter boat in Biscayne Bay, a popular holiday destination near Miami, Florida, on Saturday, leaving at least 11 people hospitalized, including two young children. The blast occurred around 12:50 p.m. at the Haulover Sandbar, a shallow area known for hosting parties at North Miami Beach.
Emergency crews responded to the scene and rescued passengers who had taken to lifeboats. One child sustained serious burns, while an adult suffered burns covering 30% of his body, according to reports. Other U.S. outlets indicated that as many as 15 people were caught in the explosion.
An investigation has been launched by the area's conservation commission. The cause of the blast remains unknown, but one uninjured passenger suggested a gas leak may have been responsible. The Miami Herald reported that fire crews were examining the boat's fuel tank as a possible ignition source.
Patrick Lee, a local business owner, told NBC he witnessed the incident. "Somebody pulled up and dropped a bunch of people on that boat, and when we looked back out, we saw three people flying off of the boat and a puff of smoke. It was pretty obvious what it was," Lee said. He added that he saw 12 stretchers carrying burn victims leaving the scene.
This incident echoes a similar event last year when an 18-month-old toddler suffered life-changing burns after a boat fire on the River Thames in Lechlade, Wiltshire, which injured nine people.
