New York City environmental worker dies after explosion on boat carrying raw sewage
An explosion on a boat carrying raw sewage that was docked on the Hudson River in New York City killed a longtime city employee on Saturday, authorities said.
Listen to this article
Another worker on the city-owned Hunts Point vessel was injured and taken to the hospital after the blast.
It happened around 10.30am local time near the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant, according to city Fire Department deputy assistant chief David Simms.
A third worker refused medical treatment.
The cause of the explosion was under investigation, but New York City mayor Eric Adams said in statement that criminal intent was not suspected.
The men on the boat, which takes raw sewage from the city to be treated, were doing work involving a flame or sparks when the explosion occurred, the US Coast Guard said on social media.
Read more: Transport Secretary boards first renationalised train signalling ‘new dawn for our railways’
First responders found a 59-year-old man unconscious in the river, New York police said, and he was declared dead at the scene.
The man had been a longtime employee of the city's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
“The entire DEP family is grieving today. Our employee who lost his life had served the Department and the City with dedication for 33 years,” said DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala.
“He was a valued and experienced member of the Bureau of Wastewater Treatment, and his decades of service reflect his commitment to DEP’s mission,” Aggarwala added.
His name has not been released, but the mayor said he was "a devoted public servant who gave 33 years of service to the New York City, and our hearts go out to his family, friends, and colleagues during this painful time".
The blast spread raw sewage over the deck of the boat, and firefighters and other first responders had to be decontaminated, Mr Simms said.
DEP said there did not appear to be any environmental impacts following the explosion.