Explosion at Staten Island shipyard leaves one dead and more than 30 injured
Authorities confirmed that the emergency forced the massive deployment of FDNY units and that the investigation into the causes continues.
A large explosion on Friday afternoon at a shipyard in Staten Island, New York, left one civilian dead and dozens of members of the New York City Fire Department injured, New York City authorities reported.
The incident occurred at a facility located on Richmond Terrace, near the Staten Island loading docks, according to Fox News.
During a press conference, FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief of Emergency Medical Services Ian Swords confirmed that 34 members of the fire department and emergency services were transported to local hospitals.
Two rescuers remain in serious condition
The authorities indicated that the most delicate cases correspond to a fire inspector and a firefighter who suffered injuries associated with the blast wave of the explosion.
The Richmond University Medical Center reported that the inspector has a temporal fracture and a small brain hemorrhage, while the firefighter remains under medical observation for possible muscle injuries resulting from the impact.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani later said the fire had been brought under control.
“It was an emergency that evolved quickly, claimed one life and left more than 30 civilians and first responders injured,” the mayor wrote on social media.
The explosion occurred during rescue efforts
According to FDNY Chief John Esposito, authorities received a call around 3:27 p.m. reporting workers trapped in a confined space inside a metal building approximately 150 feet by 150 feet.
When emergency crews arrived at the scene, they found smoke and fire in the basement of the structure located near the docks.
Firefighters entered the building to search for two trapped workers.
Shortly after, at 4:19 in the afternoon, a “large explosion” occurred that unleashed a very intense fire.
The explosion prompted a massive deployment of emergency resources, with 68 units and 212 firefighters and paramedics mobilized to control the fire.
John Esposito explained that several firefighters were inside the structure and on a nearby barge when the detonation occurred.
The authorities later confirmed the discovery of the lifeless body of a civilian.
As of 8:00 p.m., the FDNY indicated that the fire was under control and that all searches had concluded.
Authorities will begin an investigation into the cause
Zohran Mamdani publicly thanked the emergency teams for their work and highlighted that the rescuers “ran towards the danger so that others could escape.”
The mayor also reported that FDNY investigators will conduct a thorough review to determine what caused the explosion.
For her part, New York Attorney General Letitia James expressed on social media that she maintains her thoughts with the firefighters and all the people affected by the tragedy.