An explosion in the Steam Boat Graveyard across the Yukon River from Dawson City injured three people early Saturday morning.

Dawson RCMP received a complaint of a loud explosion at approximately 1:30 a.m.

When they attended the scene with emergency medical services personnel, they found three individuals injured.

All three received serious but non-life-threatening injuries from the explosion.

Two of them were medevaced outside the territory to receive treatment. Both are still at a facility in Alberta.

The third person was treated in Dawson and released.

The incident is still under investigation by the RCMP. Few details can be released, although it has been determined that a large group of youth were having an outdoor party involving an open fire when the explosion occurred.

An item containing what is believed to be gunpowder was thrown into the fire, triggering the explosion.

Two individuals were arrested and later released from custody. The police investigation is ongoing and criminal charges are pending.

Sgt. Dan Gaudet, commander of the RCMP Dawson detachment, said the Steam Boat Graveyard is an area that is known to be frequented by youth.

A number of people camping nearby at the Yukon River campground heard and saw the explosion and were the first to arrive on the scene.

Despite the resignation of a dozen volunteer ambulance attendants last Thursday, Gaudet said, the on-call attendants responded to the incident without any problems or delays.

Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact them in Dawson at 867-993-2677.