A suspected boat explosion at a Miami sandbar sent at least 11 people to hospital on Saturday, with some suffering burns and traumatic injuries, according to Juan Arias, the Miami Dade fire rescue battalion chief.
First responders received reports around 12.45pm of a possible boat explosion on the water, Arias told WPEC 12. The blast occurred onboard a charter boat carrying about 14 people, according to NBC 6 South Florida.
The cause of the explosion remains unclear. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating the incident, as reported by the Associated Press.
The Haulover Sandbar, a popular spot for spring breakers and boaters, was the scene of the explosion. Patrick Lee, a local businessman, told the Miami Herald he was driving people to another vessel when the blast happened. “When we looked back out, we saw three people flying off the boat in a puff of smoke,” Lee said.
