New details unveil possible cause of Caribbean restaurant explosion in Florida City
Moments before a not-yet-open Caribbean restaurant exploded in Florida City last weekend, injuring 10 people, a technician was working to solve a gas flow issue in the establishment, a new police report says.
On May 24, the explosion from within Caribbean’s Heart restaurant rocked a small strip mall plaza in the 900 block of West Palm Drive. The blast tore a hole through the ceiling, and a subsequent fire sent people running as over two dozen Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews rushed over.
READ MORE: Ten hospitalized after propane explosion in Florida City strip mall, officials say
Initial reports from authorities said there was a propane gas explosion from inside Palm Bakery, which was later discovered to be the old establishment that Caribbean’s Heart took over. Eight people were taken to the hospital by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, while two others took themselves there before help arrived.
That Saturday was meant to be Caribbean Heart’s opening day, according to its Facebook page and business owners in the plaza. A Florida City police incident report shows what allegedly happened in the hours leading up to their noon opening.
Roussain Thelemaque, co-owner of Caribbean’s Heart, told an officer that at 8 a.m., a technician from Anel Costatrueba Company came to turn on the gas in preparation for the opening, the report read.
The technician, Lazaro Silva, was working on the gas line to ensure everything was functioning correctly. However, it appeared there was gas in the line, and as soon as it turned on, the explosion went off, Silva explained to the officer.
The Thelemaque family disputes the accounts in the police’s incident report, said Stephanie Ducheine-Welsh, the family’s attorney.
The day before the explosion, Sydny Thelemaque, co-owner of Caribbean’s Heart, noticed the restaurant’s burners were not turning on and phoned Florigas, a South Florida gas and propane company, to help, Ducheine-Welsh said. The company had come a month before to fill up the restaurant’s gas tanks.
They sent a technician the following day, but the family contends they do not know who the Anel Costatrueba Company is. The Herald could not find a contact for the business or a description of what it does. The attorney believes it may be a third-party contractor.
It is also unclear where the technician was at the time of the explosion. While he told police he was working on the gas line, Ducheine-Welsh stated that the explosion occurred when the technician was demonstrating to the staff how to turn on the deep fryer, contrary to the incident report.
Roussain and Sydny poured their life savings into Caribbean’s Heart, cultivating relationships with the city and its mayor to receive grants and backing, Ducheine-Welsh said. They’ve now lost everything as they begin the recovery process.
According to the police report and business owners, seven shops and restaurants were impacted by the explosion. One owner told the Herald that an entire wall in their business was blown down, and a vast majority of their product was unsalvageable.
%20Cropped%20(2).jpg)