Staten Island petroleum barge explosion kills one

A fatal explosion occurred on Thursday afternoon aboard the Casablanca, a petroleum barge docked in the Mariners Harbor area of Staten Island, New York. The blast, which took place around 2:30 PM, reportedly originated from a container on the vessel, triggering a fire that required a massive emergency response.

The Fire Department of New York (FDNY) deployed approximately 160 personnel, including fire, emergency medical services, and hazardous materials teams, to the scene. While the fire was eventually extinguished on both the barge and within the container, one worker was killed in the incident. Additionally, two firefighters sustained minor injuries during the operation.

The barge was reportedly used for cleaning other vessels and separating oil sludge for recycling. The U.S. Coast Guard is currently investigating the cause of the explosion. This incident follows a similar fatal explosion at a nearby shipyard on Staten Island's North Shore three months ago.