If you're going to the Cayes, hopping on a water taxi is second nature - most of us don't even think for a second about the safety risks on the large, fast vessels.
But, tonight, that sense of safety has been profoundly shaken - and a family is in the depths of grief and loss, after two little girls were killed when the water taxi they were on had an explosion.
It happened yesterday afternoon at the Ocean Ferry Water Taxi right at the Swing Bridge in Belize City. 7News has been following this tory since then and Daniel Ortiz has been putting it all together. Here's his story:...
Daniel Ortiz reporting
2 sisters, 10 year-old Yamiri Yasmin Guy, and 8 year-old Kimberly Melissa Guy, died in a terrible mishap yesterday at the Ocean Ferry Terminal evening, sometime around 3 p.m. The boat that they were getting on to travel to Caye Caulker with their stepdad, 32 year-old Jaime Iteriano, and their mother Roseli Catch, never made it from the Terminal's docking area. The vessel's engine's spontaneously exploded injuring this family, and claimed the lives of these children.
Today, less than 24 hours after receiving the terrible news, we found their biological dad still dazed by their sudden passing.
Efren Guy - Father of the Deceased
"Right now, I cannot say anything. They are far away gone. I am just glad that I still have one of them. It was 3 of them. I really appreciate that my colleagues are with me, and that my ex-common law is okay. She is recovering from the accident that happened, and she can take care of my kids, the smallest one."
The different emergency agencies found panic and chaos at the Ocean Ferry Terminal in the aftermath of the explosion.
ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB
"There was a confusion and commotion amongst people who were gathered at that location. Police observed several persons suffering from different degrees of injuries, being burn injuries, and other fractures injuries to their bothered. As a result, police visited the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital and the Medical Associates, where upon the conclusion of checking both hospitals, it was learned that a total of 14 persons were admitted in both institutions, suffering from various degrees of burns and fractures to their body. Also, unfortunately, 2 minors passed away."
Reporter
"How many of that 14 were locals and tourists?"
ASP Alejandro Cowo
"We had 2 Canadians and 6 US nationals."
"It was a total of 34 passengers that were onboard that vessel, and some of them that was still about to board the vessel."
Benisford Matura - Assistant Fire Chief
"Upon arrival, there a bit of chaos because we had civilians, the police, and we have the injured. My firemen went into - like I said earlier, we didn't see any flames, so we went into aiding the injured, and assisting BERT."
The authorities are trying to find out what caused the explosion
ASP Alejandro Cowo
"What police gathered is that water taxi was about to depart from Belize City and go to Caye Caulker and San Pedro. When one of the engines was being started, the captain heard a loud explosion, resulting in some of the passengers sitting right underneath where the explosion occurred for them flung away from their location, and due to the extent of the blast, other persons received injuries to their bodies."
Benisford Matura
"The boat captain was Ernesto Delgado, 29 years-old. He was assisted by 2 deck hands, Santiago Guzman, and Jonathan Teck. They had just fueled, and when the captain started - they had 4 engines - four 200 horse power engines -when the captain started the engines 1 by 1, on the 4th engine, that's when the explosion occurred."
"We realized that at some point within the stern of the boat, there was a build up of gasoline. So, that showed us that there was some sign of a leak, from either the fuel tank, or the fuel line. We are unable - it is unknown which of the above, but it's still under investigation."
"When fuel, especially gasoline - it has a flammable range of 1.5% to 7.5%, once the mixture of gasoline vapors is within the air at that range, any spark can trigger it off, and that is what occurred yesterday in the stern of that boat."
"We know from the explosion occurred that it was just a flash, because nothing caught fire. It was just a sudden flash because of the fumes that was at the right mixture to creat that explosion."
"The boat had 3 fuel tanks on it, and they were all filled, and nothing happened to them. If those tanks had exploded, it would be a different story here today."
Ocean Ferry's management, chartered this vessel from the company, San Pedro Water Jets International, hoping to cover the transportation needs for their customers yesterday. This terrible accident was caught them off-guard, especially because it happened at their facility.
Reporter
"Do you know whether or not this boat had any particular mechanical issues prior to this?"
Charles Young - Director, Ocean Ferry Belize
"That's the thing that's surprising because it's an internationally run boat. It's inspected every other day that it goes to Mexico. It has to be inspected by the Port Authority before it leaves San Pedro and the Immigration and Customs Department. So, I figured it was a really nice boat, and something that's heavily inspected."
We're told that at this time, Ocean Ferry is going through financial difficulties, and it is in receivership. Money problems aside, right now, they're concerned more about the injured passengers, and the loss of life on their watch.
Charles Young - Director, Ocean Ferry Belize
"It's hard, you know, and I really feel sorry for the families. We're working hand in hand with the authorities, to see how we can help. We assisted everyone as best as we could. We flew people back to the states. We paid for all their medical expenses, and we're currently getting in touch with the families who lost their children, and still injured, trying to work with them, and see how we can assist them."
Reporter
"Would you care to tell us a little bit about your babies? You lost 2."
Efren Guy - Father of the Deceased
"Well, I saw them everyday. When they were at the Xaibe Primary School, I saw them every day. But, I cannot go close to them, because I do not want them to feel that I am not with them. So I just watched them, and never had any word with them."
Reporter
"It must be tough for you given that you had this space, and then now, you lost them."
Efren Guy
"Yes, it's really tough for me."
Police tell us that the mother, Roseli Catch, has been treated and released for minor injuries, but the stepfather, Jaime Iteriano, is still admitted at the KHMH. He worked as a baker in Caye Caulker, and he was heading to the island to report to work when the explosion happened.
The multi-agency task force that is investigating explosion is currently looking at two possible sources of electricity on the boat that they suspect could have ignited the leaking fuel.
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