Boat explodes off the beach in Fort Lauderdale, fire-rescue says
A boat exploded off the beach in Fort Lauderdale Wednesday morning, according to city fire-rescue.
This is the second boat to go up in flames in two days in Fort Lauderdale. A 39-foot Sea Ray blew up in the Intracoastal Waterway, near the large sandbar by the New River, on Monday. That blast injured 11 people, including two small children.
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Wednesday’s explosion happened just offshore around 9:30 a.m. near 1700 S. Ocean Blvd.
The 30-foot boat had one person on board, who jumped into the water and swam to shore, said Frank Guzman, a spokesman with Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue.
Paramedics took the person to Broward Health Medical Center to be treated for burn injuries, Guzman said. He was listed in fair condition as of Wednesday afternoon, Guzman added.
The boat washed up on the beach, and Fort Lauderdale and Broward Sheriff’s Office firefighters worked to put out the flames, Guzman said.
This is actually the third large boat to catch fire in South Florida this week.
READ MORE: Two boats exploded off Fort Lauderdale within 5 months. Tips to avoid a similar fate
Also on Monday, a 48-foot fishing yacht caught fire off Jupiter Inlet Monday afternoon, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Three people were on board the vessel when it caught fire, the Coast Guard said in a statement on X. They were rescued by other boaters in the area who responded to the scene. No one was hurt, according to the Coast Guard.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
This story was originally published May 28, 2025 at 10:18 AM.
