NDRRMC: Expect debris from China space rocket to fall near Ilocos Norte, Cagayan
FILE PHOTO: A Long March-5B Y3 rocket, carrying the Wentian lab module for China’s space station under construction, takes off from Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan province, China July 24, 2022. China Daily via REUTERS
MANILA, Philippines — The People’s Republic of China is scheduled to launch a rocket and parts of it are expected to fall within the identified drop zone nautical miles away from Ilocos Norte and Cagayan.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center (NDRRMC), China will launch the Long March 7A (CZ-7A) from Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Wenchang, Hainan sometime in November 3 to 4.
NDRRMC said its identified drop zone is approximately 47 nautical miles away from Burgos in llocos Norte, and 37 nautical miles away from Sta. Ana in Cagayan.
“The risk of untoward incidents and damage from falling rocket debris within Philippine territory is relatively low,” the agency said on their advisory dated Friday.
However, NDRRMC also said that the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) recommended actions related to air and marine access out of abundance of caution from November 3 to 4.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines is recommended to sustain the enforcement of no-fly zones in the affected areas during the said dates.
The Philippine Coast Guard, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority are advised to consider temporary restrictions in the identified drop zones.
To ensure the safety of the public on the waters near the drop zones, they are also advised to issue notice to mariners, coastal navigational warnings, or NAVAREA XI warnings—a notice to ocean-going mariners, as applicable.
“PhilSA cautions everyone against retrieving or coming in close proximity to these materials to minimize risk from remnants of toxic substances such as rocket fuel,” NDRRMC said.
In case contact with the debris is necessary, the agency recommended people to wear personal protective equipment.
NDRRMC further advised the public to immediately inform local authorities of any suspected debris sighted at sea or land.
