BREAKING: 15 people have been rushed to hospital after a d3vastating expl0sion tore through a tourist boat at a popular Florida hotspot…
BLAST HORROR
At least 15 rushed to hospital as explosion rips through boat leaving victims ‘badly burnt’ at Florida tourist hotspot
AT LEAST 15 people have been hospitalised with severe injuries after a horrific boat explosion in Florida.
The charter boat exploded in Biscayne Bay, a bustling tourist spot in Miami, on Saturday.
The boat that exploded was identified as a 40-foot Press Cruiser, Nauti NaborCredit: WSVN 7
Passengers were thrown from the vessel with severe burns, according to witnessesCredit: Local 10
Two children are among the victims. One is being treated for 18 per cent burns which have scorched his body.
An adult is also in hospital with burns covering roughly 30 per cent of his skin.
More than 25 dozen emergency crews rushed to the scene at around 12.50p.
On arrival rescue units “encountered multiple patients requiring medical attention”, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said.
Emergency helicopter arrives at the scene in MiamiCredit: WSVN 7
Fire crews said the explosion could have come from the boat’s fuel tankCredit: WSVN 7
Officials categorised the incident as a Level 2 Mass Casualty due to the number of victims.
Many were stranded in the water before being hauled onto lifeboats by rescue crews.
Victims were then transported to nearby fuel docks before being rushed to a local hospital.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said it transported 11 people to local hospitals but did not provide details about their condition.
But other US outlets – including NBC News – have reported that 15 were injured.
Officials have not yet revealed the cause of the incident.
But a passenger on the boat blamed it on a gas leak, according to local media.
Local business owner Patrick Lee, who witnessed the explosion, told NBC News he saw “three people flying off of the boat and a puff of smoke“.
He added: “It was pretty obvious what it was. I saw 12 stretchers leave with people very badly burnt”.
A probe has been launched into the horror blast by the state’s Conservation Commission.
The boat that exploded has been identified as the 40-foot Press Cruiser 4400 Express, Nauti Nabor.
Fire crews said the explosion could have come from the boat’s fuel tank.
The cruisers captain was not injured in the blast.