Full story
Miami boat blast
An explosion on a boat near Miami sent 11 people to hospitals with injuries on Saturday, according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.
“The charter boat was in Biscayne Bay, near Haulover Sandbar”
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Juan Arias told reporters that emergency crews responded to reports of a "possible boat explosion" at Haulover Sandbar, a popular tourist location.
ABC News reported that the charter boat was in Biscayne Bay, near Haulover Sandbar, when the blast erupted on board, and that more than two dozen rescue units responded in the afternoon.
The BBC reported that Arias said the 11 people were taken to local hospitals to be treated for burns and traumatic injuries, and that officials had not revealed the cause of the explosion.
Witnesses and response
Eyewitness Patrick Lee told the BBC that "We saw three people fly out of the boat in a puff of smoke," describing burns and what he called a "hot fire."
The BBC said fire and rescue teams were joined by the US coast guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation in responding to the incident at Haulover Sandbar.
The Guardian reported that first responders received reports roughly around 12.45pm of a possible boat explosion on the water and that it occurred onboard a charter boat with about 14 people.
The Guardian also said Patrick Lee told the Miami Herald that "When we looked back out, we saw three people flying off the boat in a puff of smoke," and that the Florida fish and wildlife conservation commission was investigating the incident.
Cause under investigation
Authorities have not revealed the cause of the explosion, with the BBC saying officials have not revealed the cause and that the BBC approached Miami-Dad Fire and Rescue for further details.
“The state Conservation Commission said an investigation is underway”
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said an investigation is underway, according to ABC News, while the BBC reported that the cause remained unclear.
The Guardian said it was unclear what caused the blast and that the Florida fish and wildlife conservation commission is investigating the incident, citing the Associated Press.
In a separate account, NewsNation said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue reported that over 25 units responded at 12:48 p.m. to reports of a possible vessel explosion near the Haulover Sandbar and that the call was upgraded to a Level 2 Mass Casualty Incident (MCI).
