The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) advised the public on Friday, Sept. 16, to be on the lookout against possible debris from a rocket that was launched into space by China.
The PCG, citing the Civil Aviation Administration of China, warned that one of the possible drop zones of the debris from the Long March 7A (CZ-7A) rocket could fall approximately 71 kilometers from Burgos, Ilocos Norte.
As such, the PCG advised coastal barangays near the area “to refrain from fishing ventures and to be on the lookout for possible sightings of falling debris.”
The PCG advised residents to report the sightings of rocket debris to Coast Guard stations and sub-stations in Ilocos Norte and to the local government of Burgos through the following contact numbers:
Coast Guard Station Ilocos Norte: 0910-609-7420
Coast Guard Sub-Station Bacarra: 0927-635-8376
Coast Guard Sub-Station Pasuquin: 0948-779-3956
Coast Guard Sub-Station Pagudpud: 0968-444-1963
Prior to this, the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) said it had been closely monitoring the launch of March 7A (CZ-7A) rocket. The rocket was launched by China last Sept. 13 at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan Island.
Last August 3, the PCG had confirmed that some debris of China’s Long March 5B (CZ-5B) booster rocket were found by fishermen approximately 100 miles from the vicinity waters of Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro near the Mindoro Strait.
The PhilSA had warned the public from coming into contact with rocket debris since it may cause health concerns or hazards.