The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) advised residents in Ilocos Norte and Cagayan on Saturday, June 29, to take precautionary measures as they might be impacted by the debris of an unarmed space rocket from China.
A statement from the OCD said China's launch of its Long March 7A rocket would take place from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. between June 28 to 30 at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Wenchang, Hainan.
"Debris from the rocket is anticipated to fall 75 nautical miles from Burgos, Ilocos Norte, and 126 nautical miles from Sta. Ana, Cagayan," the statement read.
A memorandum about the rocket launch and its potential impact has been issued by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to various concerned government agencies such as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources - National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (DENR-NAMRIA), as well as the regional disaster risk reduction and management councils in Ilocos (RDRRMC I) and Cagayan Valley (RDRRMC II).
"PCG, BFAR, DILG, and DENR-NAMRIA are advised to implement temporary restrictions and issue Notice to Mariners and Coastal Navigational Warnings, as applicable, in the identified drop zones to ensure the safety of the public on the waters near the drop zones," the OCD said.
"RDRRMCs I and II are required to continue monitoring and submit updates on this event," it added.
Meanwhile, the OCD urged the public to inform local authorities of any suspected debris sighting, and discouraged them from approaching or retrieving the debris "to minimize the risk of remnants of toxic substances" such as rocket fuel.
"Personal protective equipment (PPE) is recommended when contact with the debris is necessary," the OCD noted.
There have been several instances in the past where rocket debris believed to have originated from China were recovered in the Philippine waters.
The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) has warned that orbital debris – or components, parts or fragments of spacecraft or satellite which no longer serve functions – could collide with other objects in space or fall back to Earth. It noted that the uncontrolled re-entry of orbital debris in the atmosphere has the potential to cause damage, harm, or injury.
In June 2023, a metal debris bearing Chinese markings and resembling the top section of China-made cargo spacecraft "Tianzhou" was found by a fisherman in the open sea water in Morong, Bataan.
In November 2022, big metallic debris suspected to be wreckage of China’s Long March 5B rocket were found separately in the waters off Occidental Mindoro and Palawan.
In August 2022, rocket debris suspectedly from China’s Long March (CZ-5B) booster rocket also dropped off the Mindoro Strait in Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro.