Florida Boat Explosion: 11 Injured, 2 Children Hospitalized
- Eleven people, including two children, were hospitalized monday evening after a boat explosion and fire in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.The incident occurred around 5:45 p.m.
- Coast Guard reported that 13 individuals were aboard the vessel when the explosion took place.
- Surveillance footage captured the moment of the explosion,showing people being thrown from the boat into the water.
A boat explosion in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, sent shockwaves through the community, injuring eleven people, including two children, on Monday evening, near the Lauderdale Yacht Club. The incident resulted in severe burns, prompting the transfer of some victims to a specialized burn unit. preliminary reports suggest the explosion occurred during fueling, possibly due to a gas leak, but the exact cause of this devastating event remains under examination by the florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation commission (FWC) and fire officials. Good Samaritans quickly jumped into action, aiding those thrown into the water. News Directory 3 is following the story. Discover what’s next as investigators piece together this harrowing event.
Multiple Injured in Fort Lauderdale Boat Explosion
Eleven people, including two children, were hospitalized monday evening after a boat explosion and fire in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.The incident occurred around 5:45 p.m. near the New River Triangle, close to the Lauderdale Yacht Club, according to officials.
The U.S. Coast Guard reported that 13 individuals were aboard the vessel when the explosion took place. Fort lauderdale Fire Rescue spokesman Frank guzman noted that good Samaritans immediately began rescuing people who had been thrown into the water. The cause of the boat explosion remains under investigation.
Surveillance footage captured the moment of the explosion,showing people being thrown from the boat into the water. Guzman confirmed that 11 patients, including the two children, were initially taken to Broward Health Medical Center.Due to the severity of their burns,several patients were later transferred to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s burn unit.
Antonio Rivero, 32, who was on the boat with family, sustained burns to his arm. He recounted that the explosion occurred while fueling the boat, suggesting a possible gas leak. rivero’s wife, Cassandra, and their two children remain hospitalized.
“Tried to fuel up the boat, and must have been a gas leak and, you know, spark went off and explosion,” Rivero said. “One of the guys’ pants were blown off, so it was bad.”
Witnesses reported seeing an explosion and multiple people with burn injuries being brought to the yacht club docks. Some victims had severely burned legs and torn, burned bathing suits.
Bret Triano and Marisa Toomesn, who were nearby on a dinghy, assisted in the rescue efforts. They described a large fireball and people falling off the boat after the explosion. They rescued one man who was severely burned and pleading for water.
“He was saying, ‘Save me. Please, don’t let me die. I’m so hot, I need water,’” triano said. “He just kept repeating, ‘I want water, I want water.’”
Fort Lauderdale Police, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Florida fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the Broward sheriff’s Office assisted Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue at the scene. Crews examined the damaged boat, which was tied to a nearby sea wall. A dog that had been on board was rescued unharmed.
What’s next
The Florida Fish and wildlife Conservation Commission and fire officials are conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the Fort Lauderdale boat explosion.