Man Seriously Hurt in Australia Portaloo Explosion

A man suffered life-threatening burns Monday after a portaloo he was using exploded apparently after he lit a cigarette.

The victim, who was taking part in a joint Australia-United States military exercise at the time, was rushed to hospital with burns to his head, face, arms, chest and airways after the incident at Rockhampton airport.

"There was some sort of explosion in a portaloo. It's believed the man was lighting a cigarette at the time," a Department of Community Safety spokeswoman said.

"He was taken to the Rockhampton hospital in a serious condition."

A spokeswoman from the military operation -- Talisman Sabre -- confirmed the explosion, but could not say if an Australian or American was involved.

"I can confirm that an incident has happened but we’re still gathering information," she told the Courier-Mail newspaper.