One dead, 36 injured in explosion at New York dry dock

Firefighters are caught in blast while responding to fast-moving basement fire

Firemen on the scene following the explosion and fire at Richmond Terrace. Photo: SILive

An explosion at a dry dock in New York City's Staten Island killed one person and injured 36 others on Friday, as the blast occurred while firefighters were on the scene responding to a fire and attempting to rescue two people who were trapped, officials said.

Two firefighters were hospitalised, including a fire marshal who suffered a fractured temple and a brain bleed and was intubated, officials said. The other firefighter was in serious condition but had shown improvement, officials said.

"This was a complex, fast-developing emergency situation," New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani told reporters.

"First responders did what they always do: they ran towards danger so others could escape to safety."

Officials did not provide details about the person who died except to say it was a civilian.

A comprehensive investigation would begin once the fire was completely extinguished, Mamdani said.

Firefighters had responded to reports of a fire in a basement and two workers trapped and were on scene when the explosion occurred, officials said.

The incident took place in the Richmond Terrace section of the borough of Staten Island, a part of New York City that is across the harbor from Manhattan.