Videos show people fleeing possible boat explosion at Haulover Sandbar that hurt 11
Some people aboard a boat that possibly exploded at Haulover Sandbar on Saturday appeared to be hopping from one vessel to another in an effort to reach land while others were carried away on stretchers, according to social media posts.
As far as what caused the incident around 12:50 p.m near Bal Harbour that sent 11 people to the hospital, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said Sunday it’s “still under investigation.”
One video posted on Facebook appeared to show people jumping from one boat to another to reach land. One person was being pushed on a gurney while a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue helicopter landed in the area to help, according to the post.
A separate video posted on Instagram showed two people on stretchers. One woman who seemingly had both legs wrapped up was carried off a vessel by several officers, the post shows. One man appeared to have his legs censored with a blurring effect to cover an injury.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission worked what the called a “mass casualty incident,” rescuing the injured and finding some in the water.
Some patients were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, which houses the Miami Burn Center, according to dispatch audio on Broadcastify.com. One adult had more than 30% of his body burned, and a child had more than 18%.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said Sunday afternoon they had no more information about anyone’s condition after taking them to Jackson.
Authorities hadn’t confirmed whether the boat exploded as of Sunday. However, a man who identified himself as Leo, who declined to give his last name, told the Miami Herald Saturday he was on the boat when it exploded.
“It was the worst experience of my life,” Leo, who wasn’t injured, said.
The 40-foot cabin cruiser involved, named “ Nauti Nabors,” from Sherman, Texas, was docked near the Haulover Marine Center a few hours after the explosion. A Haulover Marine Center general manager didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about what, if anything, staff saw of the apparent explosion or the aftermath..
Anthony Torres told WPLG Local 10 his wife, Adriana Rojas, was one of 11 people injured during a Mother’s Day weekend celebration on the vessel, the report said, adding she called after the suspected explosion. A reporter attempted to contact Torres, but there was no response.
“She was screaming, ‘Help me! Help me! I’m burned! The boat blew up! Help me! Help me!,’” Torres told WPLG Local 10.
Miami Herald Staff Writers Devoun Cetoute and Milena Malaver contributed to this report.
