Two Fuel Barges Explode On Mobile River, Injuries Reported
Mobile, AL – Two fuel barges exploded and caught fire in the Mobile River on Wednesday night, sending US Coast Guard crews and firefighters to battle the flames.
Officials were responding to two explosions and a fire at natural gas barges when a third explosion. A fourth explosion was also reported just before 10 pm CDT. A fifth one happened shortly before midnight.
Three people were hospitalized with burns from the explosion, though their conditions were not immediately available. Mobile Fire and Rescue spokesman Steve Huffman confirmed the explosions and fire at natural gas barges.
The fuel barge explosions rattled the windows of houses in downtown Mobile, blew doors open in the Spanish Fort area and sent aftershocks were reported in Bay Minette and Fort Morgan.
The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear, according to US Coast Guard Petty Officer Carlos Vega. Vega explained that the blast happened in a ship channel near the George C. Wallace Tunnel, which carries traffic from Interstate 10 under the Mobile River.
The barges that exploded were at the Austal shipyard, according to early reports. They were transporting natural gas and were believed to be partially empty when the incident happened. While the initial blast was reportedly triggered by a static charge after crews were working throughout the day to empty the ship and prepare it to transport natural gas on Thursday.
But subsequent explosions have made it impossible for firefighters to board the barge and put the flames out. US Coast Guard Lieutenant Timothy Williams confirmed numerous explosions happened on one barge. He added that the barged contained multiple compartments to transport natural gas.
Rescue teams estimated that the two other compartments in the barge may contain up to 2,000 gallons of gas. The Coast Guard closed the channel and issued an order to restrict flights near the barge explosion to prevent further issues.
[Image via Dan Anderson/lagniappemobile.com]
