(DailyChive.com) – A tragic boat explosion at Lauderdale Marina in Fort Lauderdale left one person dead and five others injured on the evening of December 23, 2024. The incident, which took place around 6 p.m., sent shockwaves through the area as flames and chaos erupted.
Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue (FLFR) responded to several 911 calls about a boat engulfed in flames. When crews arrived, they found a large fire consuming one vessel, which quickly spread to another nearby boat. Witnesses described the scene as terrifying and surreal.
“It was like a boom,” a witness told a local news station. “I turned around, and the whole dock was on fire. It happened so fast.”
Firefighters and dive teams worked alongside the Broward Sheriff’s Office to locate and assist victims. Sadly, one person was discovered deceased in the water. Five others were rushed to local hospitals, with three suffering serious injuries described as traumatic.
Maria Sans, a bystander, recounted her panic as the explosion unfolded. “I was screaming and trying to find my family. The flames were everywhere.”
Another witness, Tamer Dimiati, said he saw the boat explode while he was working nearby. “The top of the boat went up and came crashing back down in flames. It was chaos. I ran to see if anyone needed help.”
The explosion occurred at a refueling dock, which raised concerns about safety at the marina. According to reports, a similar fire happened at the same location just weeks ago. Investigators are now focusing on determining the cause of this latest incident.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is leading the investigation, with help from FLFR and other agencies. Officials say they will have more answers once the damaged boats are removed and inspected.
While authorities have not released the names of the victims due to privacy concerns, the community is left reeling from this tragic event. Safety protocols at marinas are likely to face increased scrutiny following this second explosion.
For now, the focus remains on understanding what went wrong to prevent such disasters from happening again.
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