Tourists released a sky lantern which almost set a souvenir shop on fire in Taiwan.

Footage shows the family of holidaymakers trying to launch the dome-shaped red paper lantern into the air in New Taipei City on January 17.

Shockingly, the lantern veered to the right side, where a rack with hanging papers and ref magnets was displayed in front of a local store.

Their guide, however, quickly snatched the lantern with words ‘Happy' and ‘2024' on it as well as some Korean scripts, before returning it to the family who successfully sent it flying the second time.

Onlooker Ho Hyunji said: ‘It gave me a fright. I was so relieved when nothing bad happened.'

In some Asian cultures, sky lanterns are associated with specific festivals or holidays, symbolizing good luck, prosperity, and sending wishes or prayers heavenward. For example, they are prominent during the Lantern Festival in China and Thailand.