A chemical explosion at a missile base in Taiwan's Pingtung County Thursday has left four injured, including one man who is in critical condition after receiving burns to over 90 percent of his body, Ednews informs via the island's Central News Agency (CNA).
In a statement, the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, Taiwan's top military research unit, said that the explosion occurred at 10 a.m. at the institute's Jiupeng base.
The four people injured, who were disposing of missile propellant chemicals, were rushed to hospitals and remain under treatment, the institute said.
Presidential Office Spokesperson Lin Yu-chan said the cause of the incident was not yet known, adding that the president had asked for an investigation to be conducted as soon as possible.