Ilocos Norte fisherfolk told to hold off fishing due to Chinese rocket debris

INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte—The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) since Friday, Sept. 16, has started implementing a “no sail zone” policy in the waters off Burgos town in Ilocos Norte province for fear that debris from a Chinese rocket may fall within approximately 71 kilometers from the coastal town.

The PCG reiterated the earlier advisory from the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSa) that Burgos town was one of the identified “drop zones” of debris, following the launching of Long March 7A (CZ-7A) on Thursday night, Sept. 15, from the Wenchang Space Launch Center on China’s Hainan Island.

The coastal villages near the area had been asked to “refrain from fishing ventures and to be on the lookout for possible sightings of falling debris.”

All ships and watercraft, which would be crossing the area, were also cautioned to take “precautionary measures at all times,” according to the PCG advisory.

The local government of Burgos said that they are prepared to provide assistance to fisherfolk who would be affected by the “no sail zone” directive.

The Ilocos Norte provincial police office, meanwhile, had declared a full-alert status in the entire province for “better coordination and monitoring” in case debris from the rocket falls in the area, according to Police Colonel Julius Suriben, Ilocos Norte police chief.

Close contact with the rocket debris may pose health concerns or hazards, the PhilSa earlier warned.

READ: China’s rocket debris may fall into water near Cagayan, Ilocos Norte