11 Injured After Boat Explosion Near Miami's Haulover Sandbar; Gas Leak Suspected

At least 11 people were injured in what ‌Miami-Dade Fire Rescue described as a “possible vessel explosion” near a ​popular tourist attraction close ​to Miami Beach in the United States’ Florida on Saturday (local time). The explosion took place near Haulover Sandbar, a well-known recreational spot close to the beach, authorities said.

The fire department said emergency crews were dispatched after receiving reports of a “possible explosion” near the sandbar area. The fire department ⁠received a report about the incident at 12.48 ​pm Eastern Time (1648 GMT). Personnel from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the US Coast Guard also joined the rescue operation.

Gas Leak Suspected, Exact Cause Not Known Yet

According to officials,

11 injured individuals were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Authorities have not yet confirmed what triggered the blast. However, a person who had been aboard the vessel told a Miami Herald that a gas leak may have caused the explosion.

Preliminary findings from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission indicated that the incident took place on a charter boat in Biscayne Bay near Haulover Sandbar, the Associated Press reported.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said more than two dozen rescue units were deployed to the scene, where emergency responders “encountered multiple patients requiring medical attention.”

Haulover Sandbar: Popular Tourist Spot

According to NBC 6 South Florida, about 14 people were on board the charter boat at the time of the blast. Haulover Sandbar attracts hundreds of tourists and spring break visitors every year. The shallow-water spot is especially popular among boaters, and many kayakers also visit the area regularly.

Patrick Lee, a local businessman, was driving people on board his boat to another vessel on the water during the blast, he told the Miami Herald. “When we looked back out, we saw three people flying off the boat in a puff of smoke,” Lee said.

Officials have so far not released details about the severity of the injuries sustained by those on board. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion.