A serious explosion occurred at a shipyard in Staten Island on the afternoon of May 22, resulting in the death of a Chinese painter and injuries to 36 people.
Upon receiving the report, the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) dispatched rescue personnel to the shipyard to search for two trapped workers. Unexpectedly, a second major explosion occurred, causing multiple injuries, including 31 firefighters, 4 paramedics, and 1 civilian. After a night of searching, the body of one of the trapped workers was found at the severely damaged bottom of the ship’s hold on Saturday.
Official sources confirmed that the deceased was Xiaoyuan Li from Flushing.
Family members of Xiaoyuan Li expressed deep sorrow during a media interview, describing the deceased as a hardworking laborer. On the day of the incident, he was alone in the bottom compartment of the ship, painting the vessel in the extremely narrow and enclosed interior. Minutes later, a sudden explosion occurred, with the violent shock wave, flames, and thick smoke instantly cutting off his only escape route.
In the hours following the accident, although the family members understood the slim chances of survival for their loved one given his location at the time, they still held onto a glimmer of hope for a miracle. It wasn’t until Saturday when they received official notification confirming that his body had been found at the bottom of the ship, plunging the entire family into despair and grief.
Xiaoyuan Li came to the United States from the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in China ten years ago. Working tirelessly from early morning to late evening, getting up at 4 a.m. and returning home after 5 p.m., he dedicated himself to providing a better life for his family. His son had just graduated from college two days before the tragic news, still immersed in the joy of graduation when he was confronted with the heartbreaking reality.
Witnesses reported a loud bang at the scene, followed by the ship engulfed in flames and thick smoke visible for miles.
As of Sunday, the area surrounding the shipyard remains closed off. Several departments including the New York City Police Department, the Fire Department, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have launched a comprehensive investigation.
Preliminary investigations indicate that routine maintenance and welding work were being carried out on the ship at the time of the explosion, a process that poses a high risk of igniting flammable gases in dry docks. Investigators are focusing on verifying the ventilation conditions inside the hull at the time of the incident, monitoring records of flammable gases, and whether the shipyard strictly adhered to safety regulations for confined space operations.