A road crew hit a gas line in Taoyuan on Friday afternoon, badly burning a gas company worker — a reminder of how thin the margin is on urban utility work.

• Construction on Zhongzheng Road in Taoyuan broke a pipe, triggering a gas leak just after 2 p.m.
• A 48-year-old gas company employee suffered burns to his head, neck and both arms but stayed conscious and was taken to hospital.
• Firefighters sent two trucks, an ambulance and seven crew, spraying water to keep the area safe until the leak was sealed under an hour later.
• What caused the leak is still unclear.

Outlook: Investigators will look at whether the crew knew where the pipe was buried, and the worker faces a long recovery from second-degree burns.