One dead and dozens of firefighters injured in Staten Island shipyard explosion

One person was killed and more than 30 people were injured in an explosion on a barge at the Staten Island shipyard in New York City.

At least 34 people, including firefighters and first responders, were injured in Friday’s incident, officials said. The New York City Fire Department said the person who died was a civilian.

The incident began around 15:30 local time (20:30 BST) with news of workers being trapped and a fire breaking out. Approximately 50 minutes later, an explosion occurred and additional emergency response teams were dispatched to the scene.

“This was a complex and rapidly evolving emergency,” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at a news conference Friday evening.

According to the Associated Press, Joanne Mariano from the fire department’s press office said that it was reported that two workers were trapped in a closed area due to the spread of the fire.

When firefighters arrived, they detected a fire in the basement of a metal structure on the pier.

It is not yet known what caused the fire and explosion.

As of Friday evening, one firefighter was in critical condition and one firefighter was in serious condition, the mayor said at the press conference.

Officials told US media that people in the area should expect traffic delays and road closures.