A boat carrying untreated sewage on the Hudson River in New York City experienced an explosion on Saturday, resulting in the death of a city employee, as reported by authorities.

The explosion, which occurred around 10:30 a.m. near the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant, injured another worker on the city-operated Hunts Point vessel, who was then taken to the hospital, according to David Simms, Deputy Assistant Chief of the city Fire Department. A third worker chose not to receive medical attention.

The cause of the explosion is being investigated. However, New York City Mayor Eric Adams stated that there is no suspicion of criminal activity. According to a social media post by the U.S. Coast Guard, the workers on the boat, which transports raw sewage for treatment, were engaged in tasks involving flames or sparks at the time of the explosion.

First responders found a 59-year-old man unconscious in the river, New York police said, and he was declared dead at the scene.

The man had been a longtime employee of the city’s Department of Environmental Protection. His name has not been released, but the mayor said he was “a devoted public servant who gave 33 years of service to the New York City, and our hearts go out to his family, friends, and colleagues during this painful time.”

The blast spread raw sewage over the deck of the boat, and firefighters and other first responders had to be decontaminated, Simms said. DEP said there did not appear to be any environmental impacts following the explosion.

This story has been updated to correct the number of injured employees who were taken to the hospital based on new information from authorities. One worker was transported, not two.

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