Two explosions struck a barge at a commercial shipyard on Staten Island's North Shore on Friday afternoon, leaving 16 people injured, including 13 firefighters and two emergency medical workers, police said. The first blast hit at 3:25 p.m. in the Arlington neighborhood, followed by a second explosion nearly an hour later at 4:19 p.m. while many firefighters were already on scene.

More than 200 firefighters and emergency medical workers responded. Two firefighters and one civilian were seriously injured, with two others receiving moderate injuries and 11 people — including nine firefighters and two emergency medical workers — treated for minor injuries at local hospitals. Reports surfaced that a worker may have been trapped inside a dry dock, though that could not be confirmed.

Staten Island's North Shore hosts a cluster of industrial operations including tugboat operators, shipyards and barge companies. The coastline is bordered by Richmond Terrace, a busy two-lane road near residential neighborhoods, raising questions about safety protocols in the area's commercial zones.