11 hospitalized in possible Miami boat explosion, officials say

Several people were hurt after a possible boat explosion Saturday near the Haulover Sandbar in Miami, Florida, according to Miami-Dade fire officials. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said it responded, along with the Coast Guard and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, to a report of a possible boat explosion at approximately 12:45 p.m. Eastern Time. Upon arrival, fire crews found multiple patients on scene with various injuries, including burns, and some with more traumatic injuries, according to MDFR Battalion Chief Juan Arias. A total of 11 patients were transported to a local hospital for further care, officials said. Their conditions were not immediately known. Due to the sheer number of patients and the department's need for additional resources, MDFR said that it upgraded the call to a Level 2 Mass Casualty Incident. The cause of the possible explosion and fire is under investigation. Officials have not yet confirmed that an explosion occurred. Nearby boat charter Patrick Lee said he witnessed the incident. "We saw three people fly out of the boat," Lee said. "So this guy got in a hurry, and his people got on board, and he turned the key, and didn't open the hatches. Didn't turn on the blowers and he blew people out the boat." Lee said the boat was surrounded in flames within minutes, adding that several people were taken away on stretchers by paramedics. "I just saw a lot of them with burns all over them, and I said that it's a hot fire," Lee said. …