Image: Staten Island shipyards archival photo — U.S. National Archives / Wikimedia Commons, public domain- The explosion happened Friday at May Ship Repair Contracting Corp. in Mariners Harbor, Staten Island.
- One civilian worker died and 36 people were injured, according to Reuters and local New York reports.
- The cause remains under investigation; officials described a fire followed by a second explosion while responders were searching the site.
One person died and 36 others were injured after an explosion at a Staten Island dry dock on Friday, according to Reuters and local New York reports.
The incident took place at May Ship Repair Contracting Corp., also known as Mayship, at 3075 Richmond Terrace in Mariners Harbor. Firefighters were called to the site after reports of a fire and trapped workers, then a major explosion occurred while emergency crews were already on scene.
What happened
ABC7NY reported that the fire was first reported around 3:27 to 3:30 p.m. Friday. Firefighters responded to a metal structure near the docks, where reports indicated workers may have been trapped in or near a basement area.
During the response, officials said a second explosion occurred. FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito said firefighters were conducting searches when the blast happened.
The casualty count rose as the response developed. Reuters reported one civilian worker dead and 36 people injured, including many first responders.
Who was injured
Most of the injured were reported to be FDNY or EMS personnel, with some civilians also hurt. Local coverage identified serious injuries among responders, including Fire Marshal Christopher Cuccaro and Firefighter Vincent Delgado.
FDNY officials described blast injuries from a confined or difficult space. Several responders were taken to hospitals for treatment, and officials emphasized that the situation could have been even worse given the number of emergency workers at the scene.
Image: FDNY Staten Island Borough Command van — Kidfly182 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0What caused the explosion?
The cause has not been determined. Reuters reported that a full investigation would begin once the fire was fully extinguished and the site was safe for investigators.
That is the key caveat in this story. Early emergency reports can confirm the location, casualties and broad timeline, but they cannot yet explain whether the explosion was tied to fuel, chemicals, confined-space work, equipment, welding, painting or another source.
Official response
FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said responders were fortunate none of the department’s members were killed, while also noting the civilian fatality. Mayor Zohran Mamdani described the emergency as complex and fast-developing, saying first responders “ran towards danger so others could escape to safety.”
No public company statement from May Ship Repair was identified in the initial source review.
What is confirmed and what is not
Confirmed: the incident happened at May Ship Repair in Mariners Harbor, Staten Island; one civilian worker died; 36 people were injured; many injured were first responders.
Confirmed by reporting: the fire call came before the major explosion, and responders were conducting searches when the blast occurred.
Not yet confirmed: the cause of the fire or explosion, whether any safety violation contributed, and the final condition of all injured responders.
NoDechev rating: verified breaking incident, cause unknown. Casualty and injury numbers are consistent across Reuters and local reports, but the investigation is still active.
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