Coast Guard: NJ yacht explosion may be a hoax

Updated 7:20 p.m. ET

(AP) SANDY HOOK, N.J. - The U.S. Coast Guard says a report of an explosion on a motor yacht off central New Jersey could be a hoax because it can't find any signs of distress in the water.

Authorities received an emergency radio transmission from a boat identifying itself as the Blind Date on Monday afternoon.

Coast Guard Lt. Joe Klinker says the caller reported the boat was 17 nautical miles east of Sandy Hook and had 21 people aboard and several people were injured. He says the caller said the vessel had sunk but everyone aboard had made it to life rafts.

Klinker says it's "highly unusual" for the Coast Guard to get this kind of position and get there quickly but not locate anything or see any sign of distress. He says it's unclear if a yacht called the Blind Date exists.