An explosion and fire at a fuel depot inside Taiwan's Zhihang air base in Taitung has left one worker with burns over most of his body — bad news for the base and a reminder of the risks at military fuel sites.

• A fuel storage area at the air force base caught fire in the late afternoon after an apparent explosion.
• A man in his 60s, believed to be a contractor, was pulled out with no pulse and burns over 90% of his body.
• Doctors restarted his heart after about 16 minutes of resuscitation, but he remains in critical condition.
• Base staff put the fire out before firefighters arrived, and it did not spread; fire crews stayed on site in case it reignited.
• Early checks indicate fighter jets were not involved, and the military has not yet given an explanation.

Outlook: The military and local authorities are still investigating what caused the blast, with attention on possible work being done at the fuel depot.