Boat explosion injures 4 people in Daytona Beach

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A boat explosion at the Halifax Harbor Marina on Sunday left four people injured, according to the Daytona Beach Fire Department.

Firefighters responded shortly after 1:15 p.m. and the department said four boatmen had just refueled the 34-foot vessel, which exploded when they tried to start its engines.

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Vincent Kraus said he was walking on the water around 1 p.m. Sunday from the marina when he saw the boat explode.

“We were on our way to help them make sure everything was okay, but it was saved there before that,” Kraus said.

The fire department shared a security video of the explosion on Facebook page. Footage shows how the explosion blew many loose objects from the ship, as well as smoke from what officials say was a subsequent fire on the boat.

[WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW]

During a 911 call, you can hear someone trying to get people off the dock after the explosion.

“Back! Get off the pier! Everyone get off the dock!” the 911 caller told the dispatcher. operating inside that boat!”

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She said there were other boaters passing by, trying to pull the fiery boat out of the dock.

[LISTEN TO THE 911 CALL BELOW]

Laurie Brennan, a rower and witness, said: “I could see the tail and part of the back of the bow. “It’s a very big ship.”

Another 911 caller said she saw smoke and heard loud bangs.

“I see smoke. I didn’t actually see the fire, but it was still smoking,” she said during the 911 call.

[LISTEN TO THE 911 CALL BELOW]

One of the four people injured in the blast – a woman in her 50s – was taken to an Orlando hospital for burns, firefighters said. Three other rowers were treated at the scene and refused to be transported to the hospital, according to the department.

Ilene Jones, a rower, said: “It was sad to see more than anything. “Someone must have had a bad day.”

The exploding boat was towed away from the marina.

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