A major fire and explosion in Tainan's Annan District has left dozens of homes damaged and prompted a criminal investigation, with residents now depending on city and military help to rebuild.

• The blast wrecked 11 homes beyond livable condition and left another 102 nearby homes hit by smoke and damage.
• Mayor Huang Wei-che cut short a Singapore trip to run the response on the ground, and President Lai Ching-te ordered military units to help clear debris.
• 23 displaced residents are staying in a community center and a local temple, with meals, supplies, and lodging provided.
• Soldiers and tactical vehicles are hauling away broken glass, window frames, and ruined furniture, with more troops arriving the next day.
• Air quality testing around the site has come back normal so far, but monitoring continues.

Outlook: A criminal probe into the source of the dumped waste and who is responsible is already underway, and officials say polluting and waste-disposal charges will follow if the law was broken.