Flames engulfed a yacht and forced passengers overboard Friday off Miami Beach, according to a statement from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.
The yacht was anchored in Biscayne Bay around 30 yards from the dock at the time of the blaze, according to WSVN. Passengers reportedly escaped by jumping into the bay. The fire was caused by a generator on the boat catching flame, the outlet continued, citing those on board.
A dockmaster from the Miami Beach Marina assisted passengers prior to the EMTs’ arrival, WSVN reported, citing officials. No one aboard the yacht suffered injuries.
Firefighters from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and Miami Beach Fire Rescue arrived on scene and eventually extinguished the flames, according to NBC6.
#MDFRInTheNews: On Friday morning, #MDFR responded along with @MiamiBeachFire to a vessel fire near Miami Beach Marina.
Article: @nbc6 https://t.co/13ycKiyh6B
— Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (@MiamiDadeFire) October 29, 2022
The 70-foot yacht had been rented out for a company retreat and was carrying passengers from across the globe at the time of the blaze, WPLG reported.
A passenger from Serbia told WPLG occupants of the yacht did not “see the whole back of the boat on fire” before they jumped into the water. (RELATED: REPORT: Jeff Bezos Gets His $500 Million Yacht Towed After He Ruffled Feathers In The Netherlands)
“We are very lucky, our captain was amazing,” passenger Jamie Maloney told WPLG, “It’s due to him, the captain saved most of our belongings.”
The passengers moved to different boats afterwards and resumed the company retreat, according to WPLG.
Another 70-foot yacht caught fire off the New Hampshire coast in June, and a 131-foot luxury super yacht sank amid an August storm off the Italian coast. 2022 also saw the tracking and seizure of yachts belonging to Russian oligarchs following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.