New York — A fire and explosion occurred at a shipyard on Staten Island in New York City, injuring at least 16 people, including three seriously, the New York Fire Department said.
Someone reported two workers trapped in a tight space in the pier around 3:30 p.m. Friday, and responding firefighters found a fire burning in the basement of a metal structure in the pier, said Joan Mariano of the fire department’s press office.
She added that crews were still battling the fire when a large explosion occurred at the site about 50 minutes later.
Mariano said the fire was still burning, and emergency workers counted 16 people injured at the site by 5 p.m., including two firefighters and a civilian who was seriously injured.
It is not yet clear whether anyone died in the fire and explosion. The cause is still under investigation.