Rowegie Abanto

Projected drop zone of Long March 7 rocket. PhilSA

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ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752540613058Screenshot 2025-07-15 at 8.49.30 AM.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false" style="text-align:left">Projected drop zone of Long March 7 rocket. <em>PhilSA</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>)— The Philippine Space Agency confirmed China&#x27;s rocket launch early Tuesday, warning its toxic debris could be washed toward the country&#x27;s nearby coastlines and pose danger to vessels sailing in the drop zones.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/3/26/china-poses-biggest-military-threat-to-us-intel-report-1617">China poses biggest military threat to US: intel report</a></div><p>PhilSA in a statement said the debris of Beijing&#x27;s Long March 7 rocket — launched from Wenchang county in Hainan Island at around 5:34 a.m. Tuesday — could have fallen inside the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>The debris was projected to fall approximately 33 nautical miles away from Bajo de Masinloc, 88 nautical miles from Cabra Island, Occidental Mindoro, 51 nautical miles from Recto Bank, and 118 nautical miles from Busuanga, Palawan.</p><p>PhilSA noted that while the debris was not expected to fall on land or inhabited areas, it &quot;poses danger and potential risk&quot; to ships, aircraft, fishing boats, and other vessels that will pass through the drop zone.</p><p>&quot;We have alerted all the agencies like &#x27;yung Coast Guard at CAAP (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines) just to notify all the necessary advisories to airmen and to our seafarers na may ganap sa area na ito at mag ingat dahil may potential risk ang pagbagsak sa mga ships, fishing boats at other vessels na maaaring tamaan ng debris,&quot; said Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Assistant Secretary Raffy Alejandro on state television PTV.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/14/pag-asa-reef-damaged-by-grounded-chinese-ship-say-scientists-1352">Pag-asa reef damaged by grounded Chinese ship, say scientists</a></div><p>&quot;There is also a possibility for the debris to float around the area and wash toward nearby coasts. Additionally, the possibility of an uncontrolled re-entry to the atmosphere of the rocket&#x27;s upper stages returning from outer space cannot be ruled out at this time,&quot; the agency said in its statement.</p><p>PhilSA told the public to inform authorities if they spot suspected debris from China&#x27;s rocket launch.</p><p>It also cautioned against retrieving or coming in close contact with the suspected debris because it could contain remnants of toxic substances such as rocket fuel.</p><p>&quot;Hindi natin alam kung ano ang kasama ng debris na ito na toxic substances so nagremind kami sa fishermen natin na &#x27;wag kunin,&quot; said Alejandro.</p><p>&quot;Ibigay natin sa ating authorities dahil hindi natin alam kung may dalang mga substance ito na hindi maganda sa ating katawan… So mag-ingat pa din. Huwag basta basta lapitan kapag nalita ang mga debris,&quot; he added.</p><p>PhilSA in the past months issued <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/29/philsa-warns-against-debris-from-chinese-rocket-launch-0050">similar advisories</a> to warn the public of the potentially hazardous debris from China&#x27;s rocket launches. -- <strong>with a report from Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KnxBHGzdWNY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>PhilSA cautioned against retrieving or coming in close contact with the suspected debris because it could contain remnants of toxic substances such as rocket fuel.</p>

PhilSA cautioned against retrieving or coming in close contact with the suspected debris because it could contain remnants of toxic substances such as rocket fuel.

PH Space Agency warns debris from China's rocket launch may contain 'toxic substances'

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PH Space Agency warns debris from China's rocket launch may contain 'toxic substances'

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 15, 2025 09:19 AM PHT

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Updated Jul 15, 2025 01:30 PM PHT

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