Vacationing woman dies in Bahamas tour boat explosion; nine more injured

An American woman is dead and nine other people were injured following an explosion aboard a tour boat in the Bahamas early Saturday, according to officials.

The small white vessel was carrying 12 passengers, including 10 American tourists and two Bahama natives, when it burst into flames. The tragedy occurred about 130 miles south of Exuma, an island south of Nassau, ABC 10 reports.

Video footage taken at the scene from a neighboring boat shows the watercraft completely ablaze, as thick black smoke consumes the surrounding air.

Onlookers can be seen panicking and crying as they watch helplessly. Towards the end of the video people can be seen swimming to shore, and a woman is seen being carried out of the water on a stretcher.

One American, identified by family on a GoFundMe crowdfunding page as Stefanie Schaffer, reportedly suffered life-threatening injuries and remains in critical condition after a double amputation.

The cause of the incident is unknown, and is being investigated by the Exuma branch of the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the United States Coast Guard announced, according to Fox 13.

The deceased woman was identified as an American woman by Chester Cooper, a member of the parliament for Exumas and Ragged Island.

“This is a sad day for Exuma and a sad day for our American friends. We are saddened and our hearts are hurting, but we will get through this together,” Cooper said in a Facebook post.