Worker found dead, 2 firefighters hurt after apparent explosion on barge on Staten Island

MARINERS HARBOR, Staten Island (WABC) -- A worker was discovered dead, and two firefighters were injured after an explosion on a barge on Staten Island on Thursday, according to officials.

The FDNY says the explosion originated in some sort of container on a docked petroleum barge named Casablanca at 3249 Richmond Terrace between South and Arlington avenues in the Mariners Harbor section just after 2:30 p.m., and ignited a fire.

Over 50 units, and 160 fire, EMS and HAZMAT personnel responded to the fire, which reached a second alarm around 3:15 p.m.

One worker was discovered dead on the barge, according to officials, and two firefighters suffered minor injuries. All other workers have been accounted for, and the fire has since been placed under control.

Neighbor Natasha Stallworth streamed video to Citizen App right after hearing an initial blast, and thought, "not again."

Back in May, there was another fatal explosion at a nearby shipyard, and she says the blast on Thursday shook the whole neighborhood.

"There was like a really loud boom and the whole house shook," Stallworth said.

She said she witnessed more explosions and smoke after she started streaming.

"And you can see the flames, I said, 'oh yeah.' I'm on the phone with 9-1-1, like, 'it's really bad. It's really bad. Y'all need to get here now,'" she said.

Another neighbor sent his drone up to investigate, capturing the rising smoke as he heard the subsequent blasts.

"My house shook. I though a car hit my house," he said.

The FDNY remained on the scene Thursday night, draining the fuel from the damaged container and investigating the cause of the explosions.

The identity of the victim has not yet been identified.