Two people were killed yesterday when an explosion ripped through an ExxonMobil oil facility on Staten Island in New York's harbor, triggering a major blaze on one of the city's busiest waterways.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg stressed there was no indication of a terrorist act, while the FBI and Department of Homeland Security said they were looking into the incident.
A statement from ExxonMobil, the world's largest oil company, said the explosion occurred on a barge that was offloading 100,000 barrels of unleaded gasoline at its Port Mobil distribution terminal.
The statement said the bodies of two employees of the firm which owned the barge had been recovered from the water and one ExxonMobil worker had been injured.
"We are greatly saddened by the injuries and loss of life," said terminal manager Hank Muller. "We are working hard to bring the situation under control."
AFP