PhilSA issues rocket debris warning

MANILA, Philippines — Following another rocket launch by China yesterday morning, the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) issued a rocket debris warning to areas in Ilocos Norte and Cagayan that might get affected by the activity.

In an advisory, PhilSA identified the debris drop zones from the launch of the Long March 7A rocket to be “approximately 67 nautical miles away from Dalapuri Island, Cagayan, 44 NM away from Burgos, Ilocos Norte, 75 NM away from Camiguin Norte, Cagayan and 63 NM away from Santa Ana, Cagayan.”

PhilSA said the Long March 7A was launched from the Hainan International Commercial Launch Center in Wenchang, Hainan at 11:47 a.m.

The agency added that details of the rocket drop zone were disclosed through a Notice to Airmen or NOTAM warning of an “aerospace flight activity.”

PhilSA warns people against retrieving or coming in close contact with the rocket debris as these may contain remnants of toxic substances such as rocket fuel.

Yesterday, the Philippine Coast Guard said it sent PCG personnel to Barangay Minabel on Camiguin Island in Calayan, Cagayan to check on reports that rocket debris was found along its shoreline.