Eleven injured, including two children, after a boat explosion in South Florida

A tragic maritime accident occurred on Monday afternoon when a vessel exploded in Fort Lauderdale, in Broward County, leaving 11 people injured, including two minors, according to authorities and local media reports.

The tragic incident occurred near the sandbank known as New River Triangle, at the height of the Stranahan River, in the vicinity of the Lauderdale Yacht Club.

The event: An unexpected explosion on a holiday

The incident occurred around 5:45 p.m., just on Memorial Day, a day when nautical activity traditionally intensifies.

According to the spokesman for the Fort Lauderdale Fire Department, Frank Guzmán, the vessel, which had 13 people on board, "exploded and threw several people into the water."

Rescue teams quickly arrived at the scene to provide assistance.

The first victims were transported to Broward Health Medical Center, and later several patients with severe burns were sent to the burn unit at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Guzmán confirmed.

The injured and their condition

Of the 13 people on board, 11 were injured, including two children aged 5 and 7 years.

One of the minors had to be intubated due to the severity of his burns, according to Telemundo 51.

“They are burned, but we really don't know how serious it is. There’s no way to know, so we are praying because that’s the best we can do right now,” one of the children's grandmothers said in statements to the cited media.

Among the injured adults is Antonio Rivera, who was traveling on the boat with his wife. He reported that he suffered burns on his arm and that his wife was unhurt, but that other passengers "have their legs shattered."

The spokesperson Guzmán added that many of those affected showed "burns over a large part of the body" and that some were classified as level one trauma patients, which indicates severe injuries that require immediate medical attention.

Witnesses take action

The chaos of the moment was witnessed by several people who were at the recreational area of the sandbank.

Bret Triano and Marisa Toomsen, who were in a nearby inflatable boat, described the event as a "huge ball of fire."

"When they tried to start the boat, it exploded, creating a huge fireball and people were thrown off the boat," Triano recounted to several media outlets, including Miami Herald and WPLG.

Both rushed to help. They pulled a man in his thirties from the water, who was desperately shouting, "Save me, please don't let me die, I'm very hot, I need water."

Toomsen stated that the man had "severely burned" skin and that he was taken to the shore, where he received assistance from the Coast Guard.

Ongoing investigations

So far, the exact cause of the explosion has not been confirmed.

Guzmán explained that a fire investigator had been deployed to the scene and that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Fort Lauderdale Police Department will conduct a joint investigation.

One of the possible causes indicated by an anonymous victim to CBS12 suggests that an attempt was being made to refuel at the time of the explosion.

"There must have been a gas leak and, you know, a spark jumped, explosion!" he pointed out.

At the scene of the incident, the Broward Sheriff's Office and the United States Coast Guard were also present, assisting with the evacuation of the injured and the inspection of the damaged vessel.

A rescued dog and uninjured

Amid the tragedy, authorities confirmed that a dog that was on the boat was also rescued and did not sustain any injuries.

The animal was transferred in good condition by the rescuers, a detail that provided brief solace amid the human drama.

Josh McCarty, a resident of a nearby apartment, claimed to have seen emergency services attending to a child and two adults on the shore.

"He was moving and talking, but he seemed to have severe burns on his arms because he was wrapped in gauze and all," he commented to the Miami Herald.

The investigations will continue over the next few days to clarify what happened, while the victims' families remain anxiously awaiting news in hospitals.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Boat Explosion in Fort Lauderdale