Manila: The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) announced on Monday that debris from China's Long March 7 rocket may have fallen within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The rocket was launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan at approximately 8:14 a.m. (PhST) on the same day.

According to Philippines News Agency, PhilSA has issued an advisory identifying potential drop zones for the debris. These include areas around 34 nautical miles from Bajo de Masinloc, 97 nautical miles from Cabra Island in Occidental Mindoro, and 130 nautical miles from Busuanga in Palawan. The agency warns that debris could float and potentially wash up on nearby coastal areas.

The public is urged to report any sightings of suspected debris to local authorities. PhilSA also cautions against attempting to retrieve or come into close contact with the debris, as it may contain remnants of toxic substances like rocket fuel. Although the debris is not expected to land on populated areas, it poses risks to ships, aircraft, fishing boats, and other vessels navigating the drop zone.

PhilSA further highlighted the potential threat of uncontrolled re-entry of the rocket's upper stages into the atmosphere. "Debris shed during staging events and the uncontrolled reentry of large rocket upper stages pose growing hazards-not only to other spacecraft, but to civil aviation and to populations on the ground," the agency stated.