At least two people are critically injured after a boat exploded and caught on fire. Unconfirmed reports are that at least four men launched a boat about ten minutes after one this afternoon in the vicinity of the hangar in Belize City. People on the scene say that just seconds after the boat was started a loud sound was heard and the boat erupted in flames. The force of the explosion is said to have thrown some of the men overboard. Luckily, a skiff was passing the area and the men were retrieved from the water. The police and fire personnel arrived on the scene shortly after and the blaze was quelled. The small boat was completely destroyed. News Five understands that two of the men on board received extensive burns to the upper body; sources say at least one of the men received seventy percent burn. News Five spoke with Michael Theus who lives nearby. He told us what he saw after he heard the explosion.
Michael Theus, Witness
“I was sitting down, just about to get ready to have a conversation and I hear a loud boom. I got up and looked outside and saw this boat with two guys were actually thrown into the water and one guy was still standing on the bough of the boat. He looked to be disoriented and eventually he jumped out of the boat itself likewise too. Secondly, then I saw a next boat that might have been passing or something stopped and rendered some assistance and picked up two guys from out of the water and they took him off I believe to the ambulance or something.”
Michael Theus
Andrea Polanco
“Did you notice if any of the guys had any injuries?”
Michael Theus
“From my vantage point, I did see one guys face from where I was standing did seem raw so I guess he got burnt on his face.”
Andrea Polanco
“In terms of this boat, is it the first time they come out here or they have always launched out here?”
Michael Theus
“No. I have seen this boat before on numerous occasions. It is a launching pad so many boats actually come out here and launch. I have seen that one on numerous occasions come out here and launch.”
We will be following this story and have more in our newscast on Tuesday.
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