A yacht called “Blind Date†suffered an explosion off the New Jersey coast about 4:20 p.m. Monday, forcing all 21 people on board to abandon ship in life rafts. Click below to read the rest of the story.
Seven people were reported injured.
A frantic rescue effort was underway with two helicopters being deployed to the site — about 17 miles off the coast of Sandy Hook — from an air base in Atlantic City, a U.S. Coast Guard spokesman said. Rescue boats were also cruising to the site to lend aid.
The spokesman did not know the nature of the explosion or the extent of the injuries, but said no one was in the water.
“They were reported to be all safe in life rafts,†the spokesman said of the passengers and crew. “They’re still out on the water.â€
