16 Injured in NY Shipyard Explosion (Video)

A terrifying fire and explosion tore through a Staten Island shipyard Friday afternoon, injuring at least 16 people and sending more than 200 emergency responders rushing to the scene as smoke, flames, and chaos swallowed part of Richmond Terrace.

The blast unfolded at a shipyard facility in Mariners Harbor, where firefighters had first been called around 3:30 p.m. for reports that two workers were trapped in a confined space.

What began as a rescue call quickly turned into a dangerous fire fight.

Crews arrived at the facility and found flames burning in the basement of a large metal structure toward the back of the shipyard. The building was described as roughly 150 by 150 feet, according to local reports.

Then, about 50 minutes after firefighters arrived, the situation exploded.

A major blast erupted as FDNY crews were still working to knock down the basement fire, turning an already dangerous emergency into a frightening scene for first responders and workers at the site.

By Friday evening, at least 16 people had been hurt.

The injured included firefighters, EMS personnel, and at least one civilian. Officials said two firefighters and one civilian were seriously injured and taken to area hospitals.

Two additional firefighters suffered moderate injuries, while nine firefighters and two EMS workers were treated for minor injuries.

Several firefighters reportedly issued mayday calls while battling the blaze. A mayday is the most urgent distress signal firefighters can send over radio communications, usually reserved for moments when a first responder is in immediate danger.

The firefighters who sent those distress calls were later located and treated for their injuries.

Video from the scene showed a massive emergency response, with fire trucks lining the street and injured firefighters being treated nearby as crews worked to contain the fire. Roads around the area were closed, and authorities urged people to stay away from Richmond Terrace while the emergency response continued.

The explosion happened at 3075 Richmond Terrace, according to ABC 7. May Ship Repair Contracting Corporation has been reported as operating at that address, though the company had not posted anything about the explosion on its social media pages as of Friday.

One deeply troubling detail remained unresolved in the immediate aftermath: at least one shipyard worker may still have been unaccounted for, ABC 7 reported, citing police sources.

Officials had not confirmed what sparked the fire or the explosion. It was also not immediately clear whether anyone had died.

The fire comes as New York’s emergency workers continue to face dangerous conditions in aging industrial spaces across the city, where tight quarters, flammable materials, and limited access can turn routine calls into life-threatening disasters in seconds.

As of the latest available air quality monitoring from the EPA’s AirNow maps, Staten Island’s air quality did not appear to be affected by the fire or explosion.

But for the workers, firefighters, medics, and families caught up in Friday’s terrifying blast, the damage was already painfully clear. A shipyard fire had turned into a major emergency, leaving more than a dozen people hurt and a Staten Island neighborhood waiting for answers.