4 people suffer minor injuries after City Island boat explosion: officials
4 people suffer minor injuries after City Island boat explosion: officials
Magee Hickey Sun, August 30, 2026 at 3:06 AM UTC
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CITY ISLAND, The Bronx (PIX11) – The New York City Fire Department is investigating what caused a boat near City Island to explode and burst into flames.
It may have happened right after the boat left the gas dock. One person was thrown into the water from the explosion.
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“I heard a pop pop pop and explosion, and then flames,” Joseph Mannarino, owner of the nearby Lobster House, told PIX11 News.
All that is left of the 1999 30-foot Sea Ray is a smoldering shell after an explosion and fire at the gas dock on City Island.
The captain, according to eyewitnesses, had just filled up the tank at 2 p.m. Saturday when his boat exploded.
“We heard a popping noise like a small explosion,” Mike Becker, an eyewitness in a nearby boat, told PIX11 News. “A woman went into the water. She got blown into the water. She was making a lot of noise then. My father called it. He said that boat’s gonna go up in flames and it did,” he added.
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In all, 79 firefighters and EMS rushed to the boat fire.
The two men and two women on board suffered only minor injuries.
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“Maybe it was a gas leak,” Rene Rodriguez, a boat owner, told PIX11 News. “But in my opinion, a lot of people that gas up, but they don’t turn on their blowers for the 5 to 10 minutes after,” he added.
As NYC Fire Marshals continue to search for the official cause, some said if the wind had been blowing in the other direction, towards the gas dock instead of towards the water, it could have been a major catastrophe.
“Boats you can always replace, but human life you can’t,” Mandarino told PIX11 News.
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