Just as the sun dipped below the horizon on Thursday, February 20, an explosion rocked the picturesque Whaler resort. First responders rushed to a scene clouded in grey and black smoke. They later confirmed seven people with serious injuries, including one who was flown to Maui Memorial Medical Hospital and two additional people in critical condition, but luckily, no fatalities. Those reported injured range from ages 18 to 74.
Police are still investigating the cause of the explosion but said it was likely the result of liquified petroleum gas, possibly connected to a malfunctioning grill. While they have ruled out foul play, the event was still traumatic for the residents and vacationers caught up in the blast.
“We were swimming down at the pool at the Sheraton, and suddenly, there was this huge, earth-shaking boom. You can tell it wasn’t like a firework or something somebody planned,” visitor David Flint reported to local news station Hawaii Now. “We know it’s a really crowded area, which was pretty scary. There were all sorts of rumors right away. Somebody was saying a grill exploded; somebody else said there was a bomb in a garbage can. It was surreal.”
Security footage from the resort filmed the moment the explosion took place, as a seemingly calm evening was interrupted by flying shrapnel and an ear-splitting boom. Resort-goers immediately lept into action, providing medical care, aid, and shelter to those struck by flying objects and injured in the explosion. Authorities are continuing their investigation, which led into Thursday night, and have yet to confirm an exact cause for the blast.
