N. Luzon folk warned of debris drop as China launches rocket
TUGUEGARAO CITY—The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) have issued warnings and temporary maritime restrictions following the launch of China’s Long March 7A rocket early Wednesday morning.
According to PhilSA, the rocket was launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan at 6:40 a.m. The launch is expected to result in debris falling in two designated zones within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
The first drop zone is approximately 83 kilometers (45 nautical miles) northwest of Burgos, Ilocos Norte, and 124 km (67 nautical miles) west of Dalupiri Island, Cagayan.
PhilSA said the second zone lies around 118 km (64 nautical miles) northeast of Santa Ana, Cagayan, and 140 km (76 nautical miles) east of Camiguin Norte in Calayan, Cagayan.
“Unburned debris from rockets, such as the booster and fairing, are designed to be discarded as the rocket enters outer space,” PhilSA said in a statement.
Previous incidents
“While not projected to fall on land features or inhabited areas, falling debris poses danger and potential risk to ships, aircraft, fishing boats, and other vessels that will pass through the drop zone,” it added.
The Coast Guard District North Eastern Luzon (CGDNELZN) urged small vessels, fishing boats and other maritime traffic to avoid these areas during the launch window.
“Do not approach or attempt to retrieve any debris; report floating objects or suspicious findings to Coast Guard personnel or local authorities immediately,” the CGDNELZN advisory said.
The warnings came after previous incidents of rocket debris washing ashore in northern Luzon.
In November, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Calayan, Cagayan, discovered debris marked with Chinese characters along the shores of Sitio Bibigsan at Barangay Minabel on Camiguin Island.
The debris was first spotted by a parish priest and an altar server while hiking to administer Mass, and later confirmed by the Camiguin police substation and the PCG in Calayan. The remote site is only accessible through hiking.
Cagayan resident Rodel Ordillos, who has relatives in Santa Ana, expressed concern about the potential impact of the debris.
“Let us pray it will not cause damage to the northern part of Luzon,” he told the Inquirer.
Similar rocket debris drop zones have also been reported in recent months in Palawan and the Mindoro provinces.
