Lake Lanier boat explosion on July 4th leaves several injured

Flames erupted from a boat on Lake Lanier, injuring several people during the Fourth of July holiday, officials said.

It was around 7 p.m. when Hall County firefighters were called to Lanier Islands Parkway off McEver Road. The area is near Margaritaville at Lanier Islands.

Crews discovered five people injured and 5-foot flames engulfing the boat, according to fire department spokesperson Kimberlie Ledsinger.

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Four victims were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital and another was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville.

A Georgia Department of Natural Resources spokesperson told Channel 2 Action News that there were actually seven victims, ranging in age from 5 to 45 years old. All were said to be stable.

The 23-foot cabin cruiser exploded and caught fire while being towed on Landshark Cove near Margaritaville, the DNR told the news station. The fire was extinguished using a portable pump with assistance from Gainesville Fire’s Marine Rescue boat.

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The cause of the explosion is under investigation.

— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.

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