Explosion Sinks Luxury Yacht In Marina del Rey

MARINA DEL REY, CA — A luxury yacht docked in Marina del Rey went down in flames when fireworks aboard the boat exploded Wednesday night. Two people were able to escape the boat called The Admiral before the flames engulfed it, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Video filmed by bystanders showed fireworks shooting from the burning boat as it went down. The explosions could be heard across the harbor.

According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the fire was reported just after 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at 211 Basin. When they arrived, the 100-foot yacht was engulfed in flames.

The boat listed to its side while flames and fireworks threatened to set nearby boats and buildings ablaze. Firefighters battled the blaze for two hours before the boat was fully submerged underwater.

The two people on board escaped the flames unharmed, according to the fire department reported.

"According to boat owner 1,000 rounds of unspent ammunition and fireworks onboard,'' the county fire department said on X Thursday morning.

"It’s a delicate balance with putting the fire out and not sinking the boat, there are a lot of environmental hazards on the boat fuel oil what have you, and so we’re doing that delicate dance of putting the fire out but not sinking the vessel in the slip," said Capt. Pono Barnes, of lifeguard services with the LA County Fire Department told NBC Los Angeles.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation Thursday.