NEW YORK – Two workers died at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City on Monday after being trapped under construction rubble, the authorities said, adding that the incident was being probed.

The workers were identified by the Port Authority as Mr Francisco Reyes and Mr Fernando Lagunas Pereira. No additional details about them were provided.

At the time the men were trapped, they were moving the utility lines near a power plant at the airport, a Port Authority spokesman said. The task was connected to an US$18 billion (S$24 billion) improvement project at JFK International Airport that includes the expansion of two existing terminals and the construction of two new ones.

All construction at the airport was shut down after the incident, which happened around 11.00am local time, the airport said on Twitter.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport, was investigating the incident, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said, calling the incident a tragedy.

Emergency workers responded to the scene and removed the workers from the trench, the authorities said.

The workers were declared dead at the scene itself, the airport added.

Further details about the incident were not immediately available. REUTERS, NYTIMES