At least 11 people are in the hospital after what fire crews are calling a “mass casualty incident” involving a boat explosion north of Miami Beach, Florida on Saturday, May 9.
The incident happened around 12:50 p.m. in the waters off Miami’s Haulover Sandbar, according to rescue crews that included Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
According to Miami-Dade Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Juan Arias, crews located multiple victims, with 11 people treated on scene before being transported to area hospitals for treatment. Arias said some of the victims sustained burn injuries, though he did not comment on the full extent of their conditions.
Details about what caused the reported explosion have not been disclosed.
Miami Dade Fire Rescue upgraded the call to a Level 2 Mass Casualty Incident because of the number of patients and the need for additional resources.
According to The Miami Herald, the boat was docked near the Haulover Marine Center a few hours after the explosion. The Herald cites a U.S. Coast Guard database that the boat is a 40-foot cabin cruiser called Nauti Nabors from Sherman, Texas.
Many burn victims were rescued by lifeboats and sped to the nearby docks to be taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, which houses the Miami Burn Center.
USA Today Reporter Anthony Thompson contributed to this report.
James Coleman is a journalist for the USA TODAY NETWORK FLORIDA. You can reach him at JColeman@USATodayco.com and follow him on social media platform X at @jimcoleman11.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: At least 11 treated for burns after boat explosion north of Miami Beach
Reporting by James Coleman, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
