PUERTO PRINCESA CITY – Kinumpirma ng tanggapan ng Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) ang posibleng pagbagsak ng ilang bahagi o debris ng Long March 3B rocket ng bansang China sa West Philippine Sea nitong Martes, Disyembre 26, 2023.
Ayon sa PhilSA, inaasahang babagsak sa identified drop zone ang debris ng nasabing rocket na may layong 68 nautical miles mula Rozul Reef at 116 nautical miles mula Ayungin Shoal.
Kaugnay rito, nagbabala sa publiko ang tanggapan Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) – MIMAROPA, Philippine Coast Guard, at iba pang ahensya, sa maaaring panganib na maidudulot ng ‘toxic substances’ mula sa suspected debris sa mga barko, fishing vessels, at iba pang sasakyang pandagat na maaaring maglayag sa nabanggit na karagatan.
“[T]he PCG, BFAR, DILG, and DENR-NAMRIA are advised to consider temporary restrictions and the issuances of Notice of Mariners, Coastal Navigational Warnings or NAVAREA XI Warnings, as applicable, in the possible drop zones, to RDRRMC Member Agencies and Local DRRM Councils are respectfully advised to continue monitoring and submit relevant reports to OCD MIMAROPA of anu untoward incident related to abovementioned event,” pahayag ng RDRRMC 4B.
Lubos na inaabisuhan ng RDRRMC Region 4B ang mga mangingisda at iba pang sasakyang pandagat na lubusang umiwas sa mga itinatalagang lugar upang makaiwas sa anumang aksidente.
“[T]he Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) cautions everyone against retrieving or coming in close proximity to the debris/materials to minimize risk from remnants of toxic substances such as rocket fuel, and the use of personnel protective equipement is required when contact with the debris is necessary. The general public is advised to report to local authorities of any suspected debris sighted on sea or land,” dagdag ng ahensya.
Sa kabilang dako, iniulat ng China Matters na ang Long March-3B carrier rocket at Yuanzheng-1 (Expedition-1) ay inilunsad sa lalawigan ng Sichuan nitong Disyembre 26.
“A Long March-3B carrier rocket and the Yuanzheng-1 (Expedition-1) upper stage attached to the carrier rocket, carrying two new satellites, the 57th and 58th satellites for the BeiDou-3 Navigation Satellite System, blast off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Dec. 26, 2023,” pahayag ng China Matters.