• Eleven people hospitalized following a boat explosion in Fort Lauderdale.
• The explosion occurred near a popular sandbar on Memorial Day.
• Many victims suffered severe burns, with some transferred to a burn unit.
• Investigators are looking into the cause, suspected to be a gas leak.
• A dog on board was rescued without injuries.

On Memorial Day, eleven people were hospitalized after a boat exploded in the Intracoastal Waterway near a popular sandbar in Fort Lauderdale. The explosion occurred around 5:45 p.m. and involved a 39-foot Sea Ray carrying 15 individuals. Witnesses reported seeing a "huge fireball" as the blast tossed victims into the water, prompting nearby boaters to assist in the rescue, according to Newsweek, SFGate, CBS News, and The Hill.

Of the eleven injured, two were children, with many victims sustaining significant burns. Ten of the patients were transferred to a specialized burn unit at Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital. Frank Guzman of Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue indicated that all victims were alive and receiving treatment, highlighting that "many of them, if not all of them, had some sort of burns," as reported by SFGate, CBS News, and The Hill.

Witnesses recounted the panic following the explosion, with one individual describing how he assisted a man in distress who pleaded for help. "He was saying, 'Save me, please don't let me die,'" said Bret Triano, who was nearby during the incident. Emergency responders, including the Coast Guard, arrived quickly to provide care and assist in transporting the injured to local hospitals, according to Newsweek and The Hill.

The cause of the explosion is still under investigation, but initial reports suggest a potential gas leak during refueling may have sparked a "flash fire." This incident has prompted a joint investigation by local police and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, as detailed by Newsweek, SFGate, and The Hill.