A luxury yacht packed with ammunition and fireworks caused panic at a California marina when it suddenly caught fire Wednesday night, causing its entire cargo to explode.
The Admiral, a 30-meter-long boat, was carrying 1,000 rounds of firearms, forcing a massive intervention by the Los Angeles firefighters, who arrived at the marina around 8:30 p.m. and evacuated the docks.
The approximately $1 million vessel, designed in 1986, sank around 10:30 p.m., two hours after the blaze began.
It used propane as fuel, which complicated the firefighters’ response. A floating barrier was installed to prevent debris and diesel from spilling into the water.
Two people were able to escape the scene of the explosion without injury.
Neighbors feared the fire would reach boats parked nearby.
“I saw it completely engulfed in flames, and like many who live here, I heard an explosion and fireworks. The flames started up again. I went outside and filmed it,” one resident told NBC News.
An investigation is underway to understand the source of the fire.
