Staten Island Shipyard Blast Kills 1, Injures 30 Firefighters
A massive fire and explosion at a Staten Island shipyard on Friday afternoon killed one civilian worker and injured more than 30 firefighters and emergency medical personnel, according to AP News. Investigators are combing through the site to determine the cause of the blast, which sent a shockwave through the Mariners Harbor waterfront community.
The Incident
The fire was reported at approximately 3:30 p.m. ET on May 22 at the May Ship Repair Contracting Corporation shipyard, located at 3075 Richmond Terrace. Firefighters arrived within six minutes to find heavy smoke and two workers trapped in the basement area of a metal structure on a barge. As crews conducted search and rescue operations, a major explosion erupted around 4:20 p.m., sending a shockwave that injured dozens of first responders working inside and around the structure.
FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said approximately 200 firefighters and emergency medical personnel responded to the scene. The fire was brought under control by approximately 7:20 p.m.
Casualties and Injuries
The deceased victim was identified as Xiaoyuan Li, a 57-year-old Chinese immigrant from Flushing, Queens. Li had worked as a painter and subcontractor at May Ship Repair for approximately four years. According to his family, Friday was his last day of work before a planned weekend trip with his wife. His son, Jerome Li, who had just graduated from college two days earlier, told reporters that his father had been working alone in the bilge of the boat when the fire trapped him.
Among the injured, Fire Marshal Christopher Cuccaro remains in critical condition with a fractured skull and brain bleed. FDNY Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Prezant stated that Cuccaro is being closely monitored for potential brain swelling. Firefighter Vincent Delgado was also seriously injured and is in serious condition at Staten Island University Hospital. An additional 29 firefighters sustained minor to moderate injuries, and four emergency medical personnel suffered minor injuries.
The Response
“We got very lucky this day,” Commissioner Bonsignore said at a Friday evening press conference. “We got lucky in the sense that none of our people were killed. It’s unfortunate we had one fatality, and they did everything they could to get to that person.”
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani praised the first responders, stating: “As the fire grew, first responders did what they always do. They ran towards danger so others could escape to safety.”
Dr. Prezant noted that the firefighters’ injuries were caused by blast energy in a confined space, a phenomenon that can cause internal damage without visible wounds. “Thankfully both of these firefighters do not have penetrating injuries and do not have blast injury damage to their organs,” he said.
Investigation and Safety Concerns
As of Saturday, investigators continue to search for the cause of the initial fire and the subsequent explosion. The confined space nature of ship repair work has been highlighted as inherently dangerous by FDNY officials. Li’s family has raised concerns about workplace safety protocols, noting that he was the only worker in the basement area at the time of the fire.
Nadia Adam, Executive Vice President of May Ship Repair Contracting Corporation, was at the scene on Saturday as the investigation continued.
Historical Context
The shipyard at Mariners Harbor has a long maritime history dating back to 1903. During World War II, under Bethlehem Steel ownership, the yard was a major producer of warships, building 44 destroyers and other vessels for the U.S. Navy. Since 1980, the site has been operated by May Ship Repair Contracting Corporation.
What’s Next
Federal and city investigators, including OSHA, are expected to conduct thorough investigations into workplace safety at the shipyard. Questions remain about what materials on the barge may have caused such a powerful explosion and whether safety protocols were adequate for the confined space work environment. Fire Marshal Cuccaro remains in critical but stable condition as doctors monitor his recovery.