The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense has announced that the country’s Thunderbolt-2000 multiple launch rocket system exploded during a live-fire drill at the Jiupeng military facility.
A rocket reportedly did not launch properly and got trapped inside the system, causing the propellant to catch fire and damage the vehicle.
According to the ministry, the exercise was immediately suspended because of the accident.
It was the first time that the Thunderbolt system has experienced such an incident.
Residents who heard the blast and saw thick smoke around the facility sought an explanation for the incident.
‘No Casualties’
Despite the accident, the defense ministry reported that there were no civilian or military casualties among those operating the system.
There were reportedly no servicemen near the rocket system when it caught fire, and only the vehicle was damaged.
Experts from the Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology are investigating the malfunction.
An army task force has also been formed to determine the cause of the incident.