New York: A person has died and 36 others have been injured following a fire and two explosions at a shipyard in New York City, officials have said.

Most of those hurt were firefighters and emergency responders, while one civilian was pronounced dead at the scene.

A firefighter and a fire marshal were inside the building when a second explosion erupted, leaving both seriously injured by the force of the blast.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday evening, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani described the incident as “a complex, fast-moving emergency situation”.

Fire officials said emergency services were called at about 3.30pm after reports of smoke and two workers trapped in the basement of a large metal structure measuring roughly 150ft by 150ft at the rear of the shipyard.

According to Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore, firefighters and paramedics arrived within six minutes. However, shortly after crews reached the site, an explosion caused serious injuries to several firefighters and two civilians, including the person who later died.

Chief of Department John Esposito said five firefighters and rescue medics were searching inside, on top of and around the structure when a second blast occurred, injuring more personnel.

The most severe injuries were suffered by the firefighter and fire marshal caught inside during the second explosion.

“Confined spaces are extremely dangerous environments for rescuers,” Esposito said.

The fire marshal remains in a critical but stable condition with a fractured skull and a minor brain bleed, according to the fire department’s chief medical officer, Dr David Prezant.

“We will monitor him closely over the next 24 hours to ensure there is no further swelling to the brain. If that remains stable, he should recover well,” Prezant said.

The injured firefighter was initially listed in a serious condition but was said to be “doing very well” by Friday evening while doctors continued monitoring for possible muscle damage.

More than 200 firefighters remained at the scene on Friday night as crews worked to fully extinguish the blaze, which officials said was under control. Mayor Mamdani confirmed that a full investigation into the cause of the fire would begin as soon as possible.

Witness Richard Oviogor told local broadcaster WABC-TV he heard two explosions followed by what felt like “a massive shock wave”.

The surrounding area includes several businesses, among them a coffee roasting company and a self-storage facility. The shipyard was formerly owned by the Bethlehem Steel, which built ships for the US Navy during the Second World War.

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