Eleven hospitalized after boat explosion at Miami Mother's Day gathering
Eleven injured in boat explosion at Miami Mother's Day event; investigation underway.
Event / Disaster
Biscayne Bay Boat Explosion
A charter boat explosion occurred on May 10, 2026, near Haulover Sandbar in Biscayne Bay, Miami, during a Mother's Day celebration. The Press Cruiser 400 Express carrying approximately 14 passengers experienced an explosion around 12:45 p.m., resulting in at least 11 hospitalizations with burn injuries. The incident was classified as a Level 2 Mass Casualty Event and is under investigation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, with response from the U.S. Coast Guard and multiple agencies.
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2026-08-17 to 2026-11-14 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 11 May, 01:45 UTC
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What happened
At least 11 people hospitalized with burn injuries from boat explosion
Eleven people were hospitalized following the boat explosion near Haulover Sandbar. Multiple victims sustained burn injuries, with one adult burned on more than 30% of his body and another on approximately 18% of the body. Some victims suffered second-degree burns and were treated at Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center. Fire officials initially reported 15 people transported but later revised the hospitalized count to 11. The health conditions of hospitalized patients were not immediately disclosed.
Boat explosion occurs near Haulover Sandbar in Miami during Mother's Day event
A charter vessel explosion occurred in Biscayne Bay near the Haulover Sandbar in Miami on Saturday afternoon around 12:45-12:48 p.m. The vessel, identified as a Press Cruiser 400 Express named Nauti Nabors, was carrying approximately 14 passengers during a Mother's Day celebration. An eyewitness reported seeing three people ejected from the boat in an explosion. The cause is under investigation, with preliminary accounts suggesting a possible gas leak and failure to open hatches or activate blowers before engine startup.
Emergency response escalated to Level 2 Mass Casualty Incident
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue upgraded the incident to a Level 2 Mass Casualty Incident due to the number of patients and need for additional resources. The response involved Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, with more than two dozen rescue teams deployed to the scene.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission launches investigation into boat explosion
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission opened an active investigation into the boat explosion. The commission confirmed that the charter vessel was operating in Biscayne Bay near Haulover Sandbar when the explosion occurred on board. A full report will be made available through a public records request once the investigation is complete.
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