At least 11 people sent to hospital after suspected boat explosion in Miami

A suspected boat explosion at a Miami sandbar sent at least 11 people to the hospital on Saturday with some suffering from burns and traumatic injuries, according to Juan Arias, the Miami-dade-fire-rescue" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="124641" data-entity-type="organization">Miami Dade fire rescue battalion chief.First responders received reports roughly around 12.45pm of a possible boat explosion on the water, Arias told WPEC 12.It is unclear what caused the blast, which occurred onboard a charter boat with about 14 people, according to NBC 6 South Florida.The Florida fish and wildlife conservation commission is investigating the incident, according to the Associated Press.The Haulover Sandbar beckons hundreds of spring breakers and other vacation-oriented visitors every year. Located in shallow waters, the sandbar has been a boating mecca. Kayakers also regularly descend upon the strip.Patrick Lee, a local businessman, was driving people onboard his boat to another vessel on the water during the blast, he told the Miami-herald" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="16729" data-entity-type="organization">Miami Herald.“When we looked back out, we saw three people flying off the boat in a puff of smoke,” Lee said.