Ilocos Norte and Cagayan. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — Filipino fishers should report to authorities if they find any debris from the recent Chinese rocket launch.
Cagayan’s provincial information office (PIO) made the reminder as the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) confirms the launch of the Chinese Long March 7A rocket from the Wenchang Spacecraft launch site in Hainan Island on March 30.
PhilSa said the rocket launch was projected to have fallen within the identified drop zones approximately 64 nautical miles (NM) away from Dalupiri Island, Cagayan; 41 NM away from Burgos, Ilocos Norte; 79 NM away from Camiguin Norte, Cagayan; and 66 NM away from Santa Ana, Cagayan.
“There is also a possibility for the debris to float around the area and wash toward nearby coasts,” PhilSa said in a statement on March 30.
Marion Miranda, officer of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Sta Ana town in Cagayan, advised fishers in the coastal town to turn over the debris, if any.
“Miranda [also] advised the public to avoid coming near the possible rocket material and inform authorities once any debris was seen,” the Cagayan PIO said in a Facebook post on Monday.
Debris from a Chinese rocket was previously found in the Philippine territory.
On July 26, 2022, a Chinese rocket fairing was found afloat by local fishermen in Dimipac Island in Busuanga, Palawan.
READ: Chinese rocket debris found near Mindoro Strait
On November 7, 2022, another resident from Busuanga town found a piece of metal that appeared to be debris from the Chinese rocket Long March 5B.
READ: Debris from Chinese rocket found floating off Palawan shores