A series of explosions on a barge at a commercial shipyard on Staten Island on Friday afternoon left 16 people injured, including 13 firefighters and two emergency medical workers, a spokesman for the Police Department said.
The first explosion happened on a barge at 3:25 p.m. in the Arlington neighborhood, along the North Shore of Staten Island, said Brad Weekes, a spokesman with the Police Department. The second explosion happened almost an hour later, at 4:19 p.m., when many firefighters were already on scene, according to the Fire Department.
More than 200 firefighters and emergency medical workers responded to the scene. Two firefighters and one civilian were seriously injured, Mr. Weekes said. Two firefighters received moderate injuries and 11 people — including two emergency medical workers and nine firefighters — were taken to local hospitals with minor injuries.
There were reports that a worker was trapped inside a dry dock at the shipyard after the explosion. Those reports could not be confirmed early on Friday evening, according to Mr. Weekes.
Staten Island’s North Shore is lined with industrial businesses including tugboat operators, shipyards and barge companies. The coastline is bordered by Richmond Terrace, a busy two-lane road near residential neighborhoods.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.