Explosion at Taiwan's missile base leaves 4 wounded

ISTANBUL

At least four people were injured in a "chemical explosion" at a missile base in Taiwan on Thursday.

Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology said the explosion occurred at 10 a.m. local time (0200GMT) at the Jiupeng base in the southern Pingtung county.

One of the injured is in critical condition, the official Focus Taiwan news website reported.

The injured personnel were "disposing of missile propellant chemicals" when the explosion happened.

Authorities have launched a probe into the cause of the incident.

Last month, at least nine people were injured in a mortar explosion in the island nation during five-day live-fire military exercises held annually.

The explosion happened at an ammunition depot at the Hsiang Feng military base in the northern port city of Keelung.