NEW YORK (PIX11) – A worker from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection who had served the city for 33 years lost his life in a boat explosion on the Hudson River Saturday morning, officials say.
The blast's force propelled the worker between the pier and the boat, and required him to be extricated, officials said.
Two other workers were also injured when a large explosion rocked a sewage transport vessel near 138th Street in Harlem. They are expected to survive their injuries, officials said.
“The entire DEP family is grieving today. Our employee who lost his life had served the Department and the City with dedication for 33 years. He was a valued and experienced member of the Bureau of Wastewater Treatment, and his decades of service reflect his commitment to DEP’s mission,” said DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala.
City officials say the cause of the explosion remains under investigation, while the U.S. Coast Guard suspects the incident is linked to hot work aboard the barge.
Mayor Eric Adams said at this time, there is no suspicion of criminality and no impact on the sewage treatment plant.
City officials have not disclosed the identity of the deceased.
Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.
English (US) ·