One person is dead and two people are injured after a boat exploded on the Hudson River during New York City’s Fleet Week on Saturday morning.
The vessel named “Hunt’s Point” blew up near the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant close to West 138th Street around 10.30am. The deceased person, a 59-year-old male, was a worker at the raw sewage treatment plant.
He was forced off the boat due to the explosion that occurred in one of the hulls and became pinned between a vessel and a dock. He later died, New York City Fire Department Deputy Assistant Chief David Simms said at an on-scene news conference.
Authorities did not identify the man but said he had worked for the Department of Environmental Protection for 33 years.
Two other department employees sustained minor injuries. One of the individuals was transported to a nearby hospital while the other refused medical treatment at the scene.
The barge is owned by the city and transports raw sewage to the plant. It doesn’t appear that the boat was participating in Fleet Week events.
In a statement posted to X, the U.S. Coast Guard said the incident was linked to “hot work” aboard a docked boat. The compartment that exploded contained some of the waste on board. It remains unknown what specifically caused the blast.
Hazmat crews were seen working to decontaminate the barge and assess methane levels after the incident, which left raw sewage on the boat’s deck. Fire Department officials had to be decontaminated after responding.
The explosion comes days after a Mexican navy sailboat crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge, leaving two dead and 19 injured. Sailors on board the ship, named Cuauhtémoc, were strapped to the masts when it struck the bridge. The deceased were identified as América Sánchez, 20, from Veracruz, and Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos, 23, from Oaxaca.
New York City’s Fleet Week began on Wednesday and will run through Tuesday.
This year’s theme is “Honoring the Past, Defending the Future: 250 Years of Sea Service Excellence." The event offers members of the public a chance to meet U.S. Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and observe the latest developments in military technology.
In a statement responding to the explosion and the worker’s death, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said: “Our hearts go out to his family, friends and colleagues during this painful time.
“The safety and well-being of our city’s workforce, and all New Yorkers, is always our top priority, and we are committed to fully supporting an investigation and ensuring that every possible measure is taken to prevent such tragedies in the future.”
Adams added that at this time, there is no suspicion of criminality.
Democrats find unlikely defender over Biden decline revelations – Trump’s former press secretary
‘My daughter went into hospital with flu symptoms – and ended up a quadruple amputee’
Feargal Sharkey diagnosed with prostate cancer after seeing doctor for sore throat
Freed from Hamas captivity, former hostage tells his story through his paintings
Argentina's President Javier Milei to receive $1M Genesis Prize in Israel
National Spelling Bee champions say it set them up for success: 'You attain a level of mastery'
