An alleged explosion in a boat caused an emergency of multiple victims this Saturday in waters near Haulover Beach, a well-known beach in South Florida frequented by tourists and visitors.

The incident occurred around 1:00 in the afternoon near the Haulover sandbar, a popular area for gatherings and recreational activities during the weekends, the Miami Herald.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue reported deploying more than 25 emergency units after receiving reports of a possible boat explosion.

Victims transferred to hospitals

The authorities indicated that at least 15 people —including a minor— were transferred to hospitals in the area. Subsequently, function ary indicated that 11 victims remained hospitalized, although so far no details about the severity of the injuries have been revealed.

According to emergency communications cited by local media, several affected people had burns and some victims were found in the water after the incident.

Maritime teams and air units participated in the rescue and search work.

So far, authorities have not officially confirmed that it was an explosion, nor have they determined what caused the incident.

Agencies such as the United States Coast Guard and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are collaborating in the investigations.

The scene remained active for hours while emergency crews treated victims and collected evidence.

Tourist and recreational area

Haulover Sandbar is an area widely known for nautical gatherings and impromptu parties during warm seasons. The beach nearby is also internationally-recognized as-one-of-the-world's-most-popular-nudist beaches.

Authorities took advantage of the incident to remind people of the importance of conducting safety inspections on boats before sailing and having functional emergency equipment, including fire extinguishers and rescue devices.

The accident occurs at the beginning of the high recreational boating season in Florida, when thousands of private boats circulate on the state's coasts.

Investigations are continuing to determine whether there were mechanical failures, fuel issues, or other circumstances that triggered the emergency.