A tragic boat explosion occurred at a popular tourist destination, resulting in 15 individuals, including two children, being swiftly taken to the hospital. An eyewitness recounted how the blast threw several people into the water before the vessel was consumed by flames.
In response to the incident off the coast of Miami, authorities in the US classified it as a “level two mass casualty event” and dispatched over two dozen rescue units to the scene. The injured included a child with 18% burns and an adult with burns covering approximately 30% of their body.
The charter boat, identified as a Press Cruiser 400 Express named Nauti Nabors from Texas, was operating near Biscayne Bay close to the renowned Haulover Sandbar when the explosion happened. Reports indicated that there was confusion among rescuers upon arrival, with multiple individuals sustaining burns and some being rescued from the water by fire-crew lifeboats.
After the injured were transferred to nearby fuel docks for further treatment, some were airlifted to hospitals, including Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Centre and Burn Centre. A local boat captain, Patrick Lee, witnessed the terrifying incident and described seeing people thrown out of the boat and engulfed in flames. Lee speculated that the explosion may have been caused by gas fumes trapped on board due to exhaust fans not being activated.
The Miami fire service emphasized the importance of safety measures on boats, urging the public to equip vessels with working fire extinguishers and conduct thorough safety checks before departure. The cause of the explosion is under investigation, as officials work to determine the exact circumstances that led to the tragic event.
