Two barges that had been loaded with natural gas exploded in the Mobile River off the city's shore last night, injuring three people, fire officials said.

The Mobile Fire and Rescue Department said on its Twitter page the barges were the scene of four separate explosions, and that the agency had fire-fighters in place.

"Planning to let it burn," the agency said on Twitter. "Still too unstable."

The three injured people were transported to a hospital and authorities had evacuated some other people from the area, Mobile Fire and Rescue said.