Mexican tourist ferry explodes at pier injuring 25 people
Up to 25 people have been injured after an 'explosion' on a Mexican tourist ferry.
The dramatic moment was caught on a nearby CCTV camera. Footage shows the moment the ferry bursts into flames and smoke plummets from the area while people were milling about on the pier.
The ferry was docked when the explosion occurred, shortly after 1pm on Wednesday (local time) in the popular tourist resort town of Playa del Carmen.
According to witnesses the ferry had arrived at the dock only about three minutes before the explosion was heard.
Passengers were heard screaming and seen running out of the ferry, The Sun reports.
Media reports suggest there may have been a build-up of gas aboard the boat but the cause has not yet been officially released.
Local media say at the time of the explosion the dock was packed with tourists getting on and leaving ferry.
Local Civil Defense director Juan Medina Sosa said 20 Mexicans, three Canadians and two Americans were injured, and all were in good condition.
The municipal government said in a statement that the victims sustained minor cuts and were taken to a hospital for treatment.
The blast has left one side of the ferry, which belongs to the Barcos Caribe company, completely destroyed.
Witnesses Mike Ojile and Bill Albany were among those to tweet accounts of what they saw.
Got off another ferry. Couldn't see the explosion as I was on our boat but I saw stuff fall into the sea. People covered in blood on the pier. pic.twitter.com/QgJjOuxQVS
— Bill Albany (@BillM_Alb) February 21, 2018
Service to the nearby resort island of Cozumel would continue with other ferry companies that operate from the municipal dock.
