Miami-Dade fire crews declared a mass casualty response after finding burn and trauma patients on the water.
MIAMI, FL — Eleven people were taken to hospitals Saturday after a charter boat erupted in a suspected explosion near Haulover Sandbar in Biscayne Bay, drawing fire rescue crews, the U.S. Coast Guard and state wildlife officers.
The midday emergency turned one of South Florida’s busiest boating spots into a rescue scene. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said more than two dozen units responded after reports of a possible boat explosion. State investigators were working Sunday to determine what caused the blast and fire, while officials had not released the patients’ names or full conditions.
Fire rescue crews were called at about 12:45 p.m. Saturday to the area near Haulover Sandbar, a shallow gathering place for boaters north of Miami Beach. Officials said crews arrived to find multiple people needing medical care. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Juan Arias said some patients had burns and others had traumatic injuries. The number of injured led the department to upgrade the response to a Level 2 mass casualty incident, a step used when crews need more resources for several patients at once. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said preliminary information showed the boat was a charter vessel in Biscayne Bay when the blast occurred on board.
The boat had about 14 people aboard, according to reports from local officials and witnesses. Authorities said 11 patients were transported to local hospitals. The full extent of their injuries was not immediately known. At least one child was among those hurt, according to local reporting, and some patients were treated for burns. The U.S. Coast Guard joined Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and wildlife officers in the response. Officials did not immediately say whether anyone remained missing after the rescue. They also did not release the charter operator’s name Saturday night. The wildlife commission said its investigation was underway and did not announce a cause.
Witnesses described a fast-moving blast that threw people from the vessel and filled the area with smoke. Patrick Lee, who was nearby on another boat, said he saw people fly off the boat after it started. “We saw three people fly out of the boat,” Lee said. Another captain who identified himself as Leo told Local 10 that the blast appeared to happen as the vessel was starting up. He called it the “scariest moment” of his life. Officials had not confirmed Sunday whether fuel vapors, a mechanical failure or another factor caused the fire. Investigators were expected to examine the boat, interview witnesses and review any available video from nearby vessels.
The Haulover Sandbar is a well-known weekend boating area in Biscayne Bay, near Haulover Inlet and Haulover Beach. On warm days, dozens of boats often anchor in the shallow water while passengers swim, gather and move between vessels. That popularity can complicate emergency response because rescuers must reach patients by water and coordinate with other agencies. The scene Saturday drew marine units and medical crews as responders moved injured people from the water and nearby boats to waiting emergency transport. The blast came during a busy spring boating period in South Florida, when local waterways often see heavy traffic from residents, tourists and charter groups.
The vessel was later identified in local reporting as a 40-foot cabin cruiser named Nauti Nabors, listed from Sherman, Texas. The Miami Herald reported that the boat was a Press Cruiser 400 Express and that federal records listed it for recreational use, while the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission described it as a charter vessel. That difference may become part of the review as investigators look at how the boat was being operated, who was in charge and what safety equipment was aboard. Officials had not said whether any citations or charges were being considered. No arrests were announced.
Arias said the response required extra rescue resources because of the number and type of injuries. Fire crews found patients with burns and trauma, then moved them to hospitals for treatment. Witnesses said some victims were taken away on stretchers after the fire. Lee said he saw people with burns after the blast and described the flames as sudden and intense. Authorities did not release hospital destinations for all patients. Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, a major burn and trauma facility in Miami, treats serious burn cases from across the region, but officials had not provided a complete hospital-by-hospital patient count.
The investigation remained active Sunday, May 10. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was leading the inquiry, with help from local fire officials and the Coast Guard. Officials had not set a timeline for releasing a cause. The next public updates were expected to focus on patient conditions, the vessel inspection and whether the boat met charter and safety requirements.
Author note: Last updated May 10, 2026.