A Saturday afternoon at one of South Florida’s most popular boating spots turned into chaos when a boat exploded near the Haulover Sandbar, sending 11 people to the hospital with burns and other serious injuries. The blast happened around 12:45 p.m. on May 9, 2026, just off the coast between Miami Beach and North Miami Beach, in an area packed with weekend boaters and beachgoers.
What was supposed to be a fun Mother’s Day weekend outing turned into something nobody on that boat or anywhere near it will forget anytime soon. Here’s what we know so far about the explosion, the victims, the boat itself, and the questions investigators are now trying to answer.
What Happened at the Haulover Sandbar
Just before 1 p.m. on Saturday, emergency dispatchers started getting calls about an explosion on a boat near the Haulover Sandbar, a shallow stretch of water in Biscayne Bay that’s famous for attracting massive crowds of boaters every weekend. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue scrambled more than 25 units to the scene, including Fireboat 21 and multiple ocean rescue teams. The U.S. Coast Guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers also responded.
When crews arrived, they found multiple victims in and around the water, some with severe burns and others with what officials described as traumatic injuries. Because of the sheer number of people who needed help, the response was upgraded to a Level 2 Mass Casualty Incident. That designation is reserved for situations where the number of patients overwhelms the initial response, meaning more ambulances, more paramedics, and more coordination with area hospitals.
A total of 11 people were transported to local hospitals, with most taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center.
Witnesses Saw People Launched Off the Boat
Patrick Lee, a charter boat captain who was on the water nearby, gave one of the most vivid accounts of what he saw. Lee told reporters that when the explosion happened, he looked over and saw “three people flying off the boat and a puff of smoke.” He described the scene as terrifying, with victims “very badly burned” and being taken away on stretchers.
Lee also offered his theory on what went wrong. He said the captain of the boat appeared to be in a hurry, got his passengers on board, turned the key, and started the engine without opening the hatches or turning on the blowers first. For anyone who doesn’t spend a lot of time around boats, that’s a critical step. Gasoline-powered boats can build up fumes in the engine compartment, and if you don’t ventilate that space before turning the key, those fumes can ignite. That’s exactly what Lee believes happened.
The boat’s own captain, who identified himself only as Leo, told a local news outlet that a gas leak likely caused the explosion. He called it the “scariest moment” of his life.
The Victims Include at Least One Child
Among the 11 people hospitalized, at least one was a child. According to reports, burns covered more than 18 percent of that child’s body. One adult patient had burns over more than 30 percent of his body. No fatalities have been reported as of Sunday, May 10, but many of the injuries are severe.
Anthony Torres told reporters that his wife, Adriana Rojas, was one of the injured. She had been out on the water for a Mother’s Day weekend celebration when the explosion happened. Torres said Rojas called him after the blast and he rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital. He confirmed that she suffered second-degree burns across her legs, buttocks, chest, left arm, and the left side of her body. That’s a staggering amount of burn coverage for someone who was just trying to enjoy a weekend with friends or family.
Battalion Chief Juan Arias confirmed that the injuries ranged from burn injuries to other traumatic injuries, though officials have not released a full breakdown of every patient’s condition.
The Boat Was a 40-Foot Cruiser From Texas
The vessel involved has been identified as the “Nauti Nabors,” a 40-foot cabin cruiser registered out of Sherman, Texas. The Miami Herald identified it as a Press Cruiser 400 Express, while another report described it as a Sea Ray 400 Express Cruiser. Either way, it’s a sizable boat, the kind you’d see on a charter trip or a day outing with a large group.
After the explosion, the boat was towed to the Haulover Marine Center, where it was docked a few hours after the incident. Witnesses at the scene recognized the name “Nauti Nabors” on the hull as it was being towed away, along with markings indicating it came from Sherman, Texas. That’s a small city about an hour north of Dallas, so this boat had clearly traveled a long way from home.
A Big Question: Was This a Charter Boat or a Recreational Vessel?
Here’s where things get interesting, and potentially complicated for whoever owns and operates the Nauti Nabors. According to the U.S. Coast Guard’s database, the vessel was certified for recreational use. But the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission told reporters it was operating as a charter vessel at the time of the explosion, carrying several passengers.
That discrepancy matters a lot. Charter boats are held to different standards than private recreational boats. They need specific licenses, insurance, safety equipment, and inspections. If this boat was being operated as a paid charter while only being registered as a recreational vessel, that opens up a whole separate set of problems for the owner and operator. Investigators are now looking into this, and it could end up being a major part of the case.
FWC spokeswoman Melissa Brevik confirmed the commission’s involvement, stating that “preliminary information indicates a charter vessel carrying several passengers was in Biscayne Bay, near the Haulover Sandbar, when an explosion occurred on board.”
Why the Haulover Sandbar Is Such a Crowded Spot
If you’ve never been to the Haulover Sandbar, picture a shallow stretch of water in Biscayne Bay where the bottom comes up close enough that you can stand. On any given weekend, especially when the weather is nice, the area fills up with hundreds of boats anchored side by side. People wade in the shallow water, blast music, grill food on their boats, and generally treat it like a floating party. It’s one of the most well-known boating spots in all of South Florida and draws tourists and locals alike.
The popularity of the spot is exactly what makes an incident like this so alarming. On a busy Saturday afternoon in May, there were boats everywhere. The explosion could easily have caused even more injuries if other vessels had been closer, or if burning fuel had spread to nearby boats. Emergency crews had to work carefully to stabilize the scene and make sure no additional hazards threatened nearby boaters.
Multiple Agencies Are Now Investigating
The investigation into the cause of the explosion is being handled primarily by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which has jurisdiction over boating incidents in the state. But they’re not the only ones involved. The U.S. Coast Guard, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, and even the FBI’s Miami field office have all been contacted or are involved in some capacity.
Investigators will be looking at the boat’s fuel system, engine components, and overall maintenance history. The eyewitness account from Patrick Lee, who described the captain starting the engine without ventilating the engine compartment, gives investigators a clear starting point. But the formal cause hasn’t been determined yet, and officials have been careful to use the word “possible” when describing the explosion.
The recreational vs. charter classification issue will also be a focus. If the boat was taking paying passengers without the proper charter certification, that could have legal consequences beyond just the explosion itself.
What Fire Officials Are Telling Boaters
Battalion Chief Juan Arias used the incident as a reminder for everyone heading out on the water. “This time of year, we have a lot of boats on the water, so it’s always good to make sure you have a radio with you, life vests, fire extinguishers in case of fighting any fires or explosions like we had today, and also have an experienced boater with you on the boat,” Arias said.
MDFR spokesperson Erika Benitez echoed that message, urging boaters to do a full safety check and make sure their vessel is in good working condition before heading out. It sounds basic, but the eyewitness accounts from Saturday suggest that skipping even one routine step, like running the blower to clear gas fumes from the engine compartment, can have catastrophic results.
A Mother’s Day Weekend Nobody Will Forget
For Anthony Torres, the phone call from his wife after the explosion is something that will probably replay in his mind for a long time. Adriana Rojas went out to enjoy the holiday weekend and ended up in a trauma center with second-degree burns covering large portions of her body. She’s one of 11 people whose lives changed in an instant on Saturday afternoon.
As of Sunday, no fatalities had been reported, which, given the severity of the explosion and the injuries described, is something of a small mercy. But many of these victims are facing long recoveries. Burns covering 18 to 30 percent of a person’s body require extensive treatment, and the road back from that kind of injury is painful and slow.
The investigation is still in its early stages, and more details about the boat’s operation, the captain’s qualifications, and the exact cause of the explosion will likely come out in the weeks ahead. For now, 11 people and their families are dealing with the aftermath of what should have been a perfect day on the water.