Fort Lauderdale Boat Blast: What We Know So Far

A Fort Lauderdale boat explosion injured 11 people, including two children, and officials say the likely cause was fuel vapors igniting when the vessel was started, according to multiple reports. Here is what we know so far.

According to UPI, the Sun Sentinel, WSVN, the Miami Herald and ABC News, the Memorial Day blast happened near the Lauderdale Yacht Club and the Intracoastal Waterway, not at the street address in the initial dispatch. Initial reporting said 13 people were aboard, while later coverage described a 39-foot Sea Ray carrying 15 people.

Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue spokesperson Frank Guzman said, “It’s too soon to know how this happened. We have a fire investigator on the scene as well, and once we know more, we can share that.” Guzman also said good Samaritans rushed in to help, and that crews transported 11 people to Broward Health Medical Center, including two children, while rescuing a dog that was also on the boat and reported safe.

Several victims were later transferred to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s burn unit, according to the reporting. Initial coverage said no fatalities were reported, though later ABC video metadata referenced one death; the text provided does not supply enough detail to verify that claim.

Officials later said the explosion was likely caused by fuel vapors that ignited in a flash fire when the boat was started, but the exact ignition source remains under investigation. Agencies involved include Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Fort Lauderdale Police.

Dispatch records show three similar explosion incidents in Fort Lauderdale in the past six months. No road closures were confirmed in the provided reporting, and the main impact described was marine and emergency response activity near the waterway.

What's next: investigators are still working to determine the precise cause, and officials have not identified a suspect. Day.News will continue to update this story as officials release more information.

Related: Explosion Reported at Fort Lauderdale Residential Property