At least 15 people have been hospitalised with severe injuries after a horrific boat explosion in Miami, Florida, with two children among the victims
A horror boat explosion at a tourist hotspot has seen 15 people rushed to hospital, including two children, with one eyewitness saying the blast threw several into the ocean before the vessel was engulfed in flames.
Authorities in the US have declared a “level two mass casualty event” after first responders scrambled more than two dozen rescue units to waters off the cost of Miami to rescue those injured in the blast.
One child is being treated for 18 per cent burns which have scorched his body. An adult is also known to be in hospital with burns covering roughly 30 per cent of his skin.
The charter boat was out on Biscayne Bay, near the Sunshine State’s famous Haulover Sandbar, when the detonation occurred. As per 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.
READ MORE: Stirling retail park stabbing horror as two in hospital and 999 crews scrambledREAD MORE: Hantavirus live: Army parachutes in to help Brits after suspected case on island
The dispatcher tried to pinpoint how many people were injured, with the firefighter replying: “They keep coming…. we just aren’t sure right now.”
The audio confirmed that multiple people suffered burns. Some were thrown into the water by the blast and were rescued by fire-crew lifeboats.
The injured were then rushed 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 said.
The Miami Herald identified the boat as a Press Cruiser 400 Express, a 40-foot cabin cruiser called Nauti Nabors, from Texas.
South Florida boat captain Patrick Lee witnessed the horror unfold. He was shuttling passengers via his tiki boat to a larger vessel, which was moored out on waters near the Haulover Sandbar, when the explosion detonated nearby.
“We saw three people fly out of the boat,” he said. Lee said the boat was surrounded in flames within minutes, adding that several people were taken 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 captain of more than 50 years theorised to local news that the explosion was likely caused by exhaust fans that were not turned 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 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 for the blast, Leo, also told the Miami Herald the explosion caused by a gas leak. Leo, who declined to give his last name and was not injured, added: “It was the worst experience of my life.”
According to dispatch audio logs, fire crews said the explosion possibly came from the boat’s fuel tank.
Fire and rescue officials have since issued a statement to the public, with the boat explosion a stark reminder to the public to “prioritise [their] safety while out on the water”.
As per a statement, the Miami fire service said: “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 is now under official investigation by the authorities, who are yet to determine the cause.
The captain of the boat walked away from the horror incident unharmed, by both the blast and the subsequent fire.
