The massive explosion at a Staten Island commercial shipyard last week that killed a worker was determined to be accidental, caused by flammable paint vapors, the FDNY revealed Wednesday.
“Preliminary findings indicate the fire involved the ignition of flammable vapors associated with industrial-grade paint within the confined space,” the fire department wrote on X.
The May 22 blast in Mariners Harbor killed a boat worker and injured 36 others, mainly first responders, after a barge exploded at a dry-dock located around 3075 Richmond Terrace.
Of the injured, 31 were firefighters, four EMS personnel and one civilian, according to authorities.
The explosion was reported by workers stuck in a confined space in the dry-dock.
All injured personnel have been released from the hospital except one fire marshal in stable condition, FDNY said.
Xiaoyuan Li, of Flushing, was identified by family as the sole fatality from the explosion.
Li, 57, was a hard-working Chinese immigrant who died when he became “trapped” in the belly of a boat while painting, his family said Saturday.
