Debris from China's Jielong-3 rocket launch on Aug. 5 expected to fall in Northern Luzon waters - PCG

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Saturday warned sea travelers in Northern Luzon waters about possible debris from a Chinese rocket scheduled for launch on August 5.

The Jielong-3 rocket is scheduled to launch from the Yellow Sea Launch Area off Haiyang, Shandong Province, between 10:29 a.m. and 11:04 a.m. PhST on August 5, according to an advisory issued by the Coast Guard District North Eastern Luzon.

Citing the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), the PCG unit said that “the identified drop zone is within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone.”

Portions of the rocket are expected to fall in Drop Zone 1, which is located approximately 94 nautical miles from Babuyan Island and 143 nautical miles from Sta. Ana, Cagayan.

“Although the risk to Philippine territory is low, all vessels are advised to avoid the identified drop zone during the launch window and immediately report any suspected rocket debris to the nearest Philippine Coast Guard unit,” the agency stated.

Prior to this announcement, PhilSA had also confirmed the launches of the Long March 7A and Long March 6A rockets from China.

PhilSA noted that there was an increase in global launching rates, which may pose a growing threat to seacrafts, civil aviation and the population in the ground.

“The Philippines invites international partners to explore how our region can develop coordinated protocols and capabilities that protect both our space assets and our people on the ground,” PhilSA said. –VBL, GMA News