Tragic Explosion on Hudson River Leaves One Dead, Two Injured in Rare Barge Accident

A deadly explosion on the Hudson River claimed the life of a longtime New York City sanitation worker on Saturday, sending shockwaves through Fleet Week festivities and prompting a full-scale emergency response.

The incident occurred just after 10:30 a.m. near West 138th Street at the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant, when a barge used for transporting raw sewage exploded while docked. The blast, triggered during welding work, is believed to have ignited methane gas—a byproduct of the waste—causing a violent rupture in the vessel’s hull.

The explosion threw a 59-year-old Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) worker into the river, pinning him between the barge and the pier. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials described him as a dedicated public servant with more than three decades of experience in New York City’s wastewater system. Two other workers sustained injuries—one was hospitalized and the other declined medical treatment.

Emergency crews from the NYPD, FDNY, the Coast Guard, and the Office of Emergency Management responded rapidly. Hazmat teams were deployed to manage the spill and assist with decontamination, as raw sewage entered the water and posed potential health risks.

DEP Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala expressed profound sorrow over the loss, praising the fallen worker’s long-standing dedication to the city. Mayor Eric Adams also issued a statement commending first responders and confirming that, while tragic, the incident posed no ongoing threat to public safety or infrastructure.

Investigators from multiple agencies, including the NYPD and Coast Guard, are currently probing the cause of the explosion. While early reports suggest that welding equipment may have ignited methane gas, the official cause remains under review.

This rare and devastating accident has left the city mourning the loss of a veteran civil servant while drawing attention to the dangers faced by workers in essential yet often overlooked roles. Cleanup and safety assessments are ongoing, and city officials have pledged full transparency as the investigation continues.