1 Killed, 36 Injured, Mostly Firefighters, in Shipyard Blast
A massive explosion ripped through a Staten Island shipyard Friday afternoon, injuring at least 30 people — including multiple firefighters — and sending a towering plume of smoke over New York Harbor as terrified witnesses described hearing a “big shock wave” shake the neighborhood. Click here to get BREAKING NEWS ALERTS delivered to your inbox!
The blast happened at a dry dock facility in the Mariners Harbor section of Staten Island near Richmond Terrace. According to the Associated Press, the New York Fire Department said crews initially responded around 3:30 p.m. after reports that two workers were trapped inside a confined space aboard a vessel at the dock.
Firefighters discovered flames burning in the basement of a large metal structure before the situation escalated dramatically.
Roughly 50 minutes later, a powerful explosion rocked the shipyard while emergency crews were still battling the fire, according to the FDNY.
The New York Post reported that at least 13 firefighters were among the injured. One firefighter was said to be in critical condition, while two others suffered serious injuries. A civilian worker was also seriously hurt.
By Friday evening, the total number of injured had climbed to 30, according to the Associated Press. The FDNY said more than 200 firefighters and EMS personnel from 68 emergency units responded to the scene.
Witnesses described a terrifying scene.
Richard Oviogor told WABC-TV he heard “two explosions” followed by what felt like a “big shock wave,” according to the AP.
Video from local television helicopters showed thick black smoke billowing into the air as firefighters poured water onto the damaged vessel and surrounding structures. Emergency vehicles flooded the industrial waterfront while police shut down nearby roads and warned residents to avoid the area.
The exact cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
According to the New York Post, FDNY HazMat teams joined investigators from the city’s Department of Buildings and Department of Environmental Protection at the scene Friday evening.
The shipyard sits on a historic stretch of Staten Island’s waterfront once associated with Bethlehem Steel, the legendary American company that built Navy vessels during World War II, according to the Associated Press.
Officials have not yet said whether the blast was linked to welding operations, fuel systems, or another industrial hazard. Authorities also have not released the identities of the injured.
The explosion comes amid growing concerns about safety conditions at aging maritime and industrial facilities across New York City’s waterfronts. Last year, a deadly explosion aboard a sewage vessel in New York’s Hudson River killed a longtime city employee and injured others during maintenance operations, according to ABC News.
As night fell over Staten Island, firefighters continued to battle lingering hot spots while investigators worked to determine what triggered one of the most serious shipyard explosions New York City has seen in recent years.
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