A Taiwanese military rocket test went off course and self-destructed over a mountain area in Pingtung County, alarming nearby residents but causing no injuries or damage.

• A satellite launch vehicle tested at the Jiupeng base early Wednesday drifted off its planned path shortly after liftoff.
• The self-destruct system was triggered as planned, bringing it down inside the base's safety zone in the Mudan township hills.
• Residents who saw the spinning rocket fall panicked, with one filming it and shouting about the village below.
• Early rumors said a missile had gone out of control, which added to the fear before officials clarified.
• The Pingtung county government wants launches paused until the cause is found, and flight paths redrawn to avoid villages and Indigenous communities.

Outlook: Investigators will review telemetry data to redesign the rocket, while local pressure builds to change launch procedures near populated areas.