Woman hospitalised following boat explosion at Garrucha port

A WOMAN has been taken to hospital with second and third degree burns after the boat she was on in Garrucha port exploded.

The blast happened at about 12.50pm on Thursday (August 13) when the 50-year-old Spanish woman, accompanied on the seven-metre boat named Chess by her husband and two adult sons, turned the key in the ignition, 112 Emergency Services reported.

The victim jumped overboard after the resulting flames burned her back and arms and was fished out by her sons and taken by ambulance to La Inmaculada hospital in Huercal-Overa, while witnesses managed to put the fire out with an extinguisher and hosepipes from the docks.

Although an investigation will be carried out, initial studies point to excess gas in the engine being behind the blast.