One person was killed while two others were injured after a wastewater treatment boat suffered an onboard explosion while in the Hudson River in New York City on Saturday, May 24.
The incident occurred shortly after 10:30 local time on Saturday while the vessel, identified as the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) treatment boat Hunts Point, was berthed near a sewage treatment plant in the city's West Harlem neighbourhood to undergo maintenance.
The vessel was carrying raw sewage at the time, though the DEP said that the incident has not impacted operations at the West Harlem treatment plant.
The US Coast Guard meanwhile assured that the incident did not result in any pollution.
One of the injured DEP personnel was brought to hospital while the other individual has reportedly refused treatment.
Other agencies assisting in the response effort include the New York City Police and Fire Departments.
The lone fatality has been identified as 59-year-old Raymond Feige, an engineer who had been working for the DEP for 33 years.
Officials said Feige was thrown into the water due to the force of the blast and became pinned between the boat and the pier, resulting in fatal injuries.