An explosion on a boat in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has resulted in 11 people being hospitalized. The incident occurred yesterday near a yacht club at a marina located by the New River Triangle.
Witnesses recounted a loud noise and the sight of what appeared to be gas vapor filling the air. "I heard a loud explosion. When I looked at the boat, I seen it was looking like gas vapor, went into the air. I see people jump in the water," Christopher Blackwood stated, as per WFTV. The explosion occurred during Memorial Day celebrations, further adding to the chaos of the holiday activities.
Among the injured were two children who were among those promptly transported to Broward Health Medical Center. Reports from the scene by witnesses describe an urgent effort to escape the burning vessel. "Everybody was yelling for them to get off the boat," Blackwood further explained in an interview with WESH.
The specific cause of the explosion remains undetermined at this time, though officials and witnesses' accounts suggest a fiery ignition upon starting the boat. Good Samaritans were quick to respond, aiding in the rescue of the boat's passengers, including the rescue of a dog reported by WFTV. Some of the victims sustained serious burns and had to be taken to a specialized burn center in Miami.
