Explosion on Sewage Truck in Harlem Claims One Life and Injures Two Others

On Saturday, a tragic incident unfolded at a Harlem pier when an explosion on a sewage tanker resulted in one fatality and two injuries, triggering an extensive response from the New York Fire Department.

Around 10:30 AM, three workers from the New York City department of Environmental Protection were busy on the deck of the municipal sludge vessel Hunts Point, which was docked at a treatment facility near West 138th Street. The blast reportedly occurred during some hot work activities. It sent raw sewage flying across the deck and was powerful enough to hurl one worker overboard. Unfortunately, this individual became trapped between the ship and the pier, necessitating a complex recovery operation by first responders, as detailed by FDNY Deputy assistant Chief David Simms in an interview with local Fox 5.

The injured workers were promptly transported to a nearby hospital for medical care. After securing the area, all FDNY personnel involved underwent decontamination procedures due to potential exposure to untreated sewage.

The victim has been identified as Raymond Feige, who dedicated 33 years of service to DEP.

“Ray was not just an engineer; he was a cherished member of our team whose contributions often went unnoticed but were vital for our city,” stated NYC DEP Commissioner Rohit aggarwala. “His commitment over three decades is something we will always appreciate.”

An examination into what caused this unfortunate event is currently underway.