One dead and nine injured after tour boat explodes in the Bahamas

An American woman has been killed and several others injured after a tour boat exploded in the Bahamas.

The tour boat carrying 12 people, including 10 Americans and two Bahamians, burst into flames off the island of Exuma, about 130 miles south of Nassau, shortly after 9am on Saturday.

Four of the injured Americans were airlifted to a hospital in St Petersburg, Florida with the help of the US Coastguard. 

A tour boat carrying 10 Americans and two Bahamians exploded off the island of Exuma on Saturday. Four of the injured Americans were airlifted to Florida by the US Coastguard

Five others were airlifted to a hospital in Nassau to be treated for their injuries and two of them, both American, are in critical conditions.  

It is not clear if the American woman was killed in the blast or if she died later from her injuries. 

Two people on board were not hurt.  

The explosion sent flames and plumes of black smoke soaring into the air. 

Several people on a nearby boat jumped into the water to help and dragged at least one person to safety. 

Four of the injured Americans were airlifted to a hospital in St Petersburg, Florida with the help of the US Coastguard

Exumas and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper confirmed that the woman had died and that two people, both Americans, were in an ‘extremely critical condition’ in the Nassau hospital.

‘This is a sad day for Exuma and a sad day for our American friends,’ Cooper said. ‘We are saddened and our hearts our hurting, but we will get through this together. Your prayers, as always, are needed and appreciated,’ he said in a statement.

The names and conditions of the victims have not been released. 

The cause of the explosion is under investigation by the Exuma branch of the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk