PCG: Metal debris with Chinese markings retrieved in Bataan

A fisherman in Morong, Bataan has recovered metal debris bearing Chinese markings in the vicinity of the waters off the coastal municipality, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Thursday.

On Twitter, PCG Spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said the remnants “closely resembled” a portion of a Chinese automated cargo spacecraft.

“A local fisherman in Morong, Bataan discovered wreckage that closely resembled the top section of the Tianzhou, a Chinese automated cargo spacecraft. It is currently under the custody of the PCG station in Limay, Bataan,” Tarriela said in a tweet.

A Reuters report said China launched a Long March 7 rocket carrying the Tianzhou-4 spacecraft from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province in May.

The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) previously said it is monitoring fallen unburned debris from the rocket which may have landed within three identified drop zone areas approximately 65 to 79 kilometers away from Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal).

“The debris is unlikely to have dropped on land features or inhabited areas in the Philippines. However, discarded debris may float around the area or wash to nearby coasts,” said PhilSA. —VAL, GMA Integrated News