ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU/Gray News) – Eight Alaska teenagers were injured in an explosion at a beach party after authorities say a partygoer threw a 55-gallon fuel drum into a fire.

16-year-old Mia Camacho is one of the teenagers injured in the incident early Sunday. Her mother, Cynthia Vazquez, is trying to stay positive as she waits by her daughter’s side at the Alaska Native Medical Center. KTUU reports.

Content warning: The details, videos and photos in this article may be disturbing for some.

Vazquez said Mia attended the bonfire at Kodiak’s White Sands Beach with some friends and considered leaving the party, but at the last minute decided to stay a little longer. Vazquez, this decision GoFundMeHe changed his daughter’s “world in an instant”.

According to her mother’s statement, Mia suffered second-degree burns on her face, arms, hands and legs as a result of the explosion. He is expected to remain hospitalized for at least three weeks.

“It’s hard to see,” Vazquez said. “You had a beautiful face and there was only face, hands and legs. My faith has been tested in these dark moments, but I have many friends and family who are very supportive. But I’m only human and I fall apart every now and then.”

Soldiers said 20 to 40 young people attended the same party around 1 a.m. Sunday when the fuel barrel exploded. Mia was among five teenagers who troopers said were taken to Anchorage hospitals with moderate injuries.

Among these young people is 15-year-old Kavik Wolfe.

Kavik’s grandmother, Xochitl Morris, and his older sister, Danica Wolfe, traveled from Kodiak to stay with the teenager. According to Morris, who has second-degree burns on Kavik’s face and body and third-degree burns on his hands, there is no indication yet of how long it will take for him to recover.

“The pain was so intense and she was completely traumatized,” Morris said. “There was a moment a few minutes ago when he had to take medicine to relieve the pain. “He’s screaming and I don’t think any child deserves that.”

A GoFundMe page was founded To help Kavik with his family’s expenses while he recovers.

Public Safety Communications Director Austin McDaniel said: Police arrested the young man responsible for throwing the fuel jug into the fire.

“At this point he has been placed in the custody of the Division of Juvenile Justice,” McDaniel said. “We are still actively investigating this and encourage anyone who was at the party or has firsthand information who has not spoken to state troopers to consider reaching out to Alaska State Troopers to give us more information. We can help conclude our investigation.”

McDaniel said troopers are continuing to investigate whether anyone else was injured who may not have been admitted to the hospital.

The department is aware of eight people receiving hospital care, including five who flew from Kodiak to Anchorage, according to McDaniel.

“If anyone else was injured, that would be information we would want to know as we work with the Division of Juvenile Justice to determine what, if any, juvenile charges they might be able to prosecute,” he said.

Cops are asking anyone who witnessed the incident and has not yet spoken to them to call (907) 486-4121.

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