One person is dead and several others are injured after an explosion on a boat at a Dania Beach marina on Friday.
It happened at around 4:30 p.m. on 4420 Ravenswood Road. Chopper 6 showed firefighters battling flames and thick smoke billowing from a 50-foot boat that was being readied for an upcoming boat show.
There were five male victims, including one who was found dead at the scene, according to Broward Sheriff's Fire Rescue. The injured were hospitalized with blast and burn injuries.
Workers told NBC6 that all of the victims are also employees of the marina.
The Hurricane season is on. Our meteorologists are ready. Sign up for the NBC 6 Weather newsletter to get the latest forecast in your inbox.
Investigators said people at the marina were putting gas in a boat when something ignited, causing the blast.
Russell Kennedy was on his bike nearby when he says the blast almost knocked him to the ground.
Local
“How loud was it? It almost knocked me off my bicycle,” Kennedy said. “It was pretty powerful, to say the least.”
Several emotional people tried to get to the marina to check on their loved ones, friends and coworkers.
“I can't even imagine their feelings, their thoughts,” Kennedy said. “I just started thinking about everybody who was involved.”
Less than a mile away, Amanda Locascio was working at Rustic Inn Crabhouse when she says the explosion shook the restaurant.
“You could feel it in your chest almost but it was a very loud explosion,” Locascio said. “It was pretty intense, it was the loudest thing I've ever heard.”
“We thought someone hit our floating boat but we smoke coming and realized it was from the boat yard,” Locascio said.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the explosion and the fire.
