A fire and explosion at a Staten Island shipyard on Friday killed one person and injured more than 30, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a press conference about the incident on Friday night.
Among those injured is a fire marshal in critical condition and a firefighter in serious condition, Mamdani said.
The New York Fire Department (FDNY) originally responded to the incident at around 3:30 p.m., after a call came in reporting two workers were trapped in a confined space at the Richmond Terrace facility. Responding crews found a fire burning in the basement of a metal structure before a major explosion occurred roughly 50 minutes later as firefighters battled the blaze.
At least one shipyard worker might still be unaccounted for, ABC 7 News reported, citing police sources.
Newsweek reached out to the FDNY by phone for comment.
“This does remain an active fire scene,” Mamdani said in the press conference, adding that information about the fire’s cause would be shared with New Yorkers as soon as it was available.
Staten Island Shipyard Explosion: What We Know
Firefighters were called to the area after a call that workers were trapped. The fire was burning in the basement of a 150 x 150 metal structure toward the back of the shipyard, silive.com reported. The shipyard is located in Mariners Harbor.
Footage shared on social media on Friday showed a large emergency response as crews worked to get the situation under control. More than 200 public safety personnel were on scene on Friday evening, the report said.
Mayday calls were issued by several firefighters while they battled the blaze, ABC 7 reported. A mayday call is the highest-level distress signal used in radio communications to indicate a life‑threatening emergency. The firefighters who issued the calls have since been located and are being treated after sustaining injuries.
As of about 8 p.m., officials said more than 30 people were hurt.
Governor Kathy Hochul said state agencies would assist the city in determining the cause of the fire.
“Praying for everyone injured in today’s Staten Island shipyard explosion, including the @FDNY firefighters who rushed toward danger to save lives,” Hochul posted on X on Friday evening. “State agencies are coordinating with city officials as investigators work to determine the cause.”
Videos of the scene showed some firefighters being treated for injuries on scene, with fire trucks extending down the block.
Some road closures are still in effect, and people are being asked to avoid the area.
Where Was the Explosion?
The explosion occurred at 3075 Richmond Terrace in Staten Island, ABC 7 reported. May Ship Repair Contracting Corporation is reported to be operating at that address, but nothing about the explosion has been shared on the company’s social media pages.
Newsweek reached out to the company via email for comment.
Current Staten Island Air Quality
As of current monitoring from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) AirNow air quality maps, Staten Island air quality does not appear to be affected by the fire or the explosion.