West PH Sea: Explosions heard in Palawan after Chinese rocket launch

Photo courtesy of Philippine Coast Guard

MANILA, Philippines — Explosions believed to be related to a Chinese rocket launch were heard in the eastern part of Palawan on Monday, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said the “five loud explosions” coincided with a previously issued public advisory on a scheduled rocket launch from China.

Residents of Puerto Princesa City and other coastal towns in the province were affected by the incident, according to National Security Adviser Eduardo Año.

Tarriela noted that the explosions corresponded to the scheduled launch of China’s Long March 12 rocket, which took place between 6:14 p.m. and 6:42 p.m. from the Hainan International Commercial Launch Center in Wenchang, Hainan Province, China.

“A series of five loud explosions were [heard]—described as booming sounds—originating from the east,” Tarriela said in a statement on Tuesday. “Upon immediate verification, a visible condensation trail was observed in the sky, consistent with rocket exhaust or propulsion.”

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Año said residents “also saw a fireball cross the sky that later exploded, causing the ground to shake.”

The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSa) also confirmed on Monday night the launch of the Long March 12 rocket from China.

PhilSa said the expected debris from the rocket launch was projected to have fallen within the identified drop zones approximately 21 nautical miles (NM) away from Puerto Princesa, Palawan and 18 NM away from Tubbataha Reef Natural Park.

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“While not projected to fall on land features or inhabited areas, falling debris poses danger and potential risk to ships, aircraft, fishing boats, and other vessels that will pass through the drop zone,” PhilSa said in a statement.

The Philippine Navy has deployed a ship to retrieve debris that could pose a navigational hazard, according to Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea. Año added that aerial assets were also deployed for the same purpose.

Tarriela said so far, “no immediate threats to safety or navigation” have been reported as a result of the event.

However, he still urged mariners and the public to remain vigilant and report any sightings of potential debris to local PCG stations.  /dl/mcm