Two men were critically injured on Thursday in explosions aboard a barge at the Senesco Marine shipyard on Rhode Island’s Quonset Point.
Barge Under Construction When Welding Malfunction Set Off First Explosion
Rescue crews responded to reports of two explosions at the Senesco Marine shipyard on Macnaught St. in North Kingston around 3:30 p.m. on January 11th.
“Witnesses who heard it say it was just a very loud bang,” Capt. Paul Barry of the North Kingstown Police Department told local media outlets.
An 800-foot fuel barge was under construction when a welding machinery malfunction set off the first explosion.
The second blast was ignited when a piece of scrap metal launched by the initial explosion hit a propane tank about 100 yards away.
Workers Injured in Rhode Island Barge Explosion Suffered Severe Burns, Leg Injuries
One of the injured workers sustained 2nd and 3rd degree burns to 70% of his body.
The second worker suffered severe leg injuries when he was thrown across the hold.
The critically injured men were rushed to Rhode Island Hospital, where they are listed in stable condition.
Weather Prevented Helicopter Rescue
“We called for a helicopter, but due to weather conditions, one was not available,” Chief North Kingstown Fire Chief Scott Kettelle said.
Rescuers were initially unable to use the vessel’s elevator, as all power was ordered shut down to prevent another explosion.
It’s unclear what exactly led to the accident. Investigators from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) were called to the scene.
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