One person died Thursday afternoon following an explosion on a Staten Island petroleum barge that ignited a large shipping container fire, according to authorities.
The incident occurred around 2:35 p.m. on the barge named "Casablanca" near Richmond Terrace and South Avenue in Mariners Harbor, officials confirmed.
The blast engulfed a 10-foot-by-40-foot shipping container, creating thick plumes of smoke visible from the area. Law enforcement sources stated that only one worker was aboard the barge at the time of the explosion, and confirmed a single fatality.
Fire Department of New York (FDNY) units, including 53 vehicles and approximately 160 fire, EMS, and Hazmat personnel, responded to the scene. Fire officials reported that first responders remained on-site for about two hours to secure the barge and mitigate the risk of further explosions. The cause of the blast is currently under investigation.