A boat explosion in Fort Lauderdale left 13 people injured Thursday afternoon (October 15), according to Local 10. The news outlet captured footage a 41-foot Wellcraft boat engulfed in flames and large clouds of smoke. The incident happened around 2 p.m. near the Fort Lauderdale Marine Center south of Davie Road. The boat was heading down the South Fork New River when the explosion occurred, forcing its 21 passengers overboard and into the water, according to Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Stephen Gollan.
Officials said 13 people were injured, and five of them were taken to Broward Medical Center. Gollan said some victims refused to go to the hospital. He added all the victims sustained burns of varying degrees. Two were in serious condition, according to the battalion chief. Local 10 reported that one person suffered burns to 40 percent of their body and had to be airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital's burn unit.
Good Samaritans rushed out on their boats to help some passengers to shore. "Lot of smoke coming out of the cockpit when we took three, four people off the bow. By the time we got them to the bank, the boat was fully engulfed in flames," Bret King said, one of the Samaritans, said. Firefighters managed to put the flames out. Officials are still investigating the cause of the boat fire.
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