Four injured in Wai'anae boat explosion - Honolulu, Hawaii

Four people were injured this morning after an explosion aboard a fishing boat at Wai'anae
Boat Harbor, Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Frank Johnson said.

Two men, a 52-year-old and a 40-year-old, were taken to The Queen's Medical Center in
serious condition, while a 17-year-old boy and 53-year-old man were transported in stable
condition to the Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, though the extent of their
injuries was not known.

Wai'anae police said it appeared the inboard gas tank on the boat ignited and exploded,
sinking the boat within minutes. Coast Guard and State Department of Land and Natural
Resources officials are now at the harbor, determining how to raise the boat off the bottom
of the harbor. The Coast Guard is also working to stem any pollution hazards, a spokeswoman
said.

Three people were aboard the boat when the explosion happened about 6:30 a.m., and a
fourth person was untying it from the pier. Johnson said one of the victims aboard the boat
was thrown into the water with the force of the explosion, a second was thrown onto the
pier and the third was thrown and landed in the boat.

Firefighters arrived within five minutes, but by that time the boat had gone down.