Spanish
One person died and 36 were injured after a fire and two explosions at a shipyard in the city of New York, local authorities reported on Friday. Most of the injured are firefighters and other first responders, while the fatality was identified as a civilian who died at the scene.
A firefighter and a fire inspector were inside the structure when the second explosion occurred, and both suffered serious injuries from the shock wave.
The inspector remains in critical but stable condition, with a fractured skull and a slight cerebral hemorrhage, according to the medical director of the fire department, David Prezant. The firefighter, in serious condition upon entering the hospital, was evolving favorably during the night.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the emergency a "complex and rapidly developing" situation during a press conference. "Emergency services did what they always do: they ran towards danger so that others could escape to safety."
The fire and explosions occurred around 3:30 PM, when several people alerted about smoke and workers trapped in the basement of a 46 x 46 meter metal structure at the back of the shipyard. Fire and paramedic teams arrived in six minutes, but shortly after, an explosion occurred that caused injuries to several rescuers and civilians.
Five firefighters and paramedics were trying to rescue the workers at the time of the second explosion, which caused more injuries.
The area, where businesses such as a coffee roasting company and a warehouse rental facility are located, includes facilities that in the past belonged to Bethlehem Steel, a company that built ships for the United States Navy in World War II. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the emergency a "complex and rapidly developing" situation.
The fire remained under control on Friday night, with more than 200 firefighters on the scene. Authorities announced the start of an investigation to determine the cause of the incident.
