According to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and NBC 6 South Florida, the blast occurred on Saturday, May 24, just hours before the grand opening of Caribbean's Heart restaurant, injuring ten people. Eight of the ten victims were transported by first responders to an area hospital, while two others made their way to the hospital on their own. Two of the injured were airlifted as trauma alerts. The extent of their injuries remains unknown.
The blast caused a partial roof collapse in the structure, prompting fire officials to send K-9 units inside to search for additional victims. No further casualties were reported. However, the building has since been deemed entirely unsafe.
Now, the community is left picking up the pieces. As of Wednesday, May 28, all businesses remain closed.
Among the injured was Luz Tejeda, owner of Diva's Dominican Hair Spa, located in the same strip mall. She described a terrifying scene to NBC6, recounting how the ceiling gave way and a lamp crashed down on her. "The lamp and roof came down on my head, and I had something on my arm," Tejeda told the local news station. "[But] I feel good because I have life [I'm alive], that's the thing."BUSINESS EXPLOSION - Newly obtained video shows the aftermath of an explosive emergency in Florida City. https://t.co/jwXm47YQk8
— WPLG Local 10 News (@WPLGLocal10) May 26, 2025
The cause of the explosion is under investigation, and the owners of Caribbean's Heart have since acquired a lawyer. Our thoughts are with the victims and business owners affected by this tragedy.
