The two men were mixing chemicals in a container in front of a group of neighbours at a Cannons Creek home, when it exploded shortly after 11pm (AEST) on Sunday.
Both men are now fighting for their lives in Melbourne hospitals.
A paramedic on scene likened the injuries to those typically found in a war zone, saying a 24-year-old man had "complete or near amputation" of his legs and a hand.
"One (patient) had severe airway burns and the second patient suffered severe blast-type injuries, the type of injury you`d more liken to what you`d see in a war situation rather than in outer suburban Melbourne," he said.
The 24-year-old, with blast injuries and burns to his face and airways, remains in a critical condition in the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
A 23-year-old Cannons Creek man suffered burns to his face, arms and airways and is in a critical condition in The Alfred Hospital.
The 24-year-old was given a blood transfusion on the helicopter en route to hospital.
"Due to his severe blast injuries he`d lost quite a lot of blood," Mr Meadley said.
"We were able to give him quite a bit of blood and resuscitate his blood pressure. Then we were able to give him some powerful drugs and ... put him into an induced coma."
Paramedics feared the burned airways of both men could close over, so fitted them with breathing tubes.
Mr Meadley confirmed reports the explosion could be felt in nearby homes.
"I believe a lot of the neighbours who were up to a few hundred metres away felt their houses rock, so it was quite a large explosion," he told ABC radio.
Neighbour Judy Gibbs also told ABC the explosion shook her house.
"I`d gone to bed and next minute there was this great, big, loud explosion - the windows in my house shook, the whole house shook," she said.
It`s believed the accident was essentially fun gone wrong.
The two men were mixing the chemicals to make an improvised explosive device, possibly a rocket, in front of neighbours when the explosion occurred.
(U.C003/A050)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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