OCRACOKE, N.C. (July 4, 2009)--A fireworks explosion on a North Carolina island only reachable by ferry has killed one worker and critically injured four others, authorities said.

Hyde County spokeswoman Jamie Tunnell says everyone who was hurt Saturday worked for a company that was setting up the annual Independence Day fireworks display on the Ocracoke Island docks.

Anchorage Marina dock master Robert Raborn says the explosion was heard across Ocracoke village.

Raborn says from his vantage point 200 yards away, it looked like 40 minutes worth of fireworks went off in four seconds.

Ocracoke Island is the southernmost inhabited island on the Outer Banks, about two hours from the mainland, and is only accessible by ferry.