The Philippine Space Agency on Friday cautioned that fragments from China’s Long March 12 rocket launch may have landed in waters off Puerto Princesa, Palawan, including areas near the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.
In an advisory, PhilSA said pieces of Chinese rocket debris were projected to have fallen in the following areas within Philippine archipelagic waters: 23 nautical miles away from Puerto Princesa, Palawan and 21 nautical miles away from Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.
According to PhilSA, the Long March 12 rocket was launched from the Hainan International Commercial Launch Center in Wenchang, Hainan at around 7:00 a.m. on Friday (Manila time).
The information on the rocket’s drop zone was released via a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to alert aircraft operators about the “aerospace flight activity.”
Prior to China’s rocket launch, PhilSA circulated a pre-launch advisory to concerned government bodies and officials.
According to PhilSA, the fragments from the Chinese rocket are not expected to hit any landmass or populated locations.
However, PhilSA warned that the falling debris could endanger ships, planes, fishing vessels, and other craft that will traverse the drop zone.
Some debris may float around the area and be washed toward nearby shorelines, the agency added.
An uncontrolled re-entry of the rocket’s upper stages to the atmosphere from outer space is possible, according to PhilSA.
“PhilSA reiterates its advice for the public to inform local authorities if suspected debris is sighted,” the agency said.
“PhilSA also cautions against retrieving or coming in close contact with these materials that may contain remnants of toxic substances such as rocket fuel,” it added.
