WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Local authorities in U.S. state of Florida said Monday that one woman has died and 15 more injured due to a fire aboard a boat on Sunday.

The woman was confirmed dead late Sunday after jumping off the boat and taken to the hospital, regional medical center Bayonet Point spokesman Kurt Conover said.

The boat, which shuttles passengers to and from a casino boat off shore left Port Richey on Sunday afternoon, and has soon caught fire that is believed to have started in the engine room. As the boat turned back to the dock, scores of passengers jumped into the water to escape.

The boat was less than 100 meter offshore and most of the passengers were able to wade back to land, though the cold temperature may have caused further trauma.