Explosion rocks sewage boat in New York, kills longtime city employee

An explosion occurred on a boat carrying raw sewage, killing a longtime city employee in New York. According to the authorities, the boat was docked on the Hudson River in New York City when the incident took place.

Another worker on the city-owned Hunts Point vessel was injured and taken to a nearby hospital, the Associated Press reported.

The explosion took place on Saturday at 10:30 am (local time) near the North River wastewater treatment plant. NYC Deputy Assistant Chief David Simms of the fire department said that another worker wounded in the incident refused medical treatment since he had minor injuries.

The cause of the blast is under investigation. Shortly after the incident, New York Mayor Eric Adams said that criminal intent was not suspected in the case.

Meanwhile, the US Coast Guard, investigating the matter, noted that the men onboard were taking the raw sewage from the city to be treated and were performing tasks involving flame or sparks when the explosion occurred.

New York police noted that the first responders found a 59-year-old man unconscious in the river, and he was declared dead at the scene. The authorities said that the man had been a longtime employee of the city’s environmental protection department.

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 also spread raw sewage over the deck of the boat and the first responders are working on the decontamination of the area.