Falling debris feared as China launches rocket near Palawan

SMOKE TRAIL Smoke billows into the sky above Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, in this photo taken past 6 p.m. on Monday following an explosion from suspected debris of China’s Long March 12 rocket, launched on the same day. —Chris Barrientos/Contributor

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan, Philippines — Authorities in this city and across Palawan were keeping a close watch on the eastern waters of the province following the launch of China’s Long March 12 rocket on Monday afternoon amid concerns over falling debris.

Around 6:30 p.m. on Monday, residents from this city and nearby towns took to social media, posting photos and videos of billowing smoke and what appeared to be a falling object in the eastern sky—just minutes after the rocket was launched from China’s Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan.

Reports of two loud explosions circulated, causing alarm among residents.

Netizens reported hearing the blasts and witnessing smoke from various areas, including the municipality of Roxas, roughly 100 kilometers north of this city, as well as from the towns of Aborlan and Narra to the south.

Angelique Songco, superintendent of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, also confirmed that rangers stationed at the site observed smoke in the sky.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año condemned the launch, calling it “irresponsible” and saying it alarmed the public and placed residents of Palawan at risk.

“Loud explosions caused by the Chinese rocket launch caused widespread alarm and concern in Puerto Princesa City and other municipalities, particularly in coastal barangays in the province,” Año said in a statement Tuesday.

Security briefing

Although no damage or injuries have been reported, he warned that falling debris posed a danger to land areas, ships, aircraft, fishing boats, and other vessels navigating near the drop zones.

“There is also a possibility for the debris to float around the area and wash toward nearby coasts,” Año added.

On Tuesday, the Palawan Provincial Board (PB) sought a security briefing with the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Command (Wescom), the Department of National Defense, and the Department of Foreign Affairs following the midair explosion of the suspected rocket debris off the coast of the province.

PB Member Ryan Maminta raised concern over a possible pattern during Tuesday’s provincial board session, noting that “the drop zones appear to be getting closer to land,” suggesting that “a message is being relayed to Palawan.”

PB Member Winston Arzaga echoed the alarm, especially since Palawan hosts an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement site, warning that the province could become a target in the event diplomacy fails in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) dispute.

“The message is clear—Palawan must take a more active role in shaping policies regarding our conflict with China,” Arzaga said during the session, suggesting the provincial government spearhead the consultations.

PB Member Roseller Pineda, meanwhile, downplayed the concern, saying the rocket launch was planned and duly coordinated. However, he acknowledged it was normal for residents to feel anxious given the ongoing maritime tensions.

Stay vigilant

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Tuesday confirmed that the series of loud explosion-like sounds heard off eastern Palawan were linked to a scheduled rocket launch conducted by China on the same day.

In a statement, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said the PCG monitored five booming “explosion-like” sounds in the direction of the eastern horizon, which coincided with the public advisory it had earlier issued regarding China’s Long March 12 rocket launch.

The PCG said a “visible condensation trail was observed in the sky, consistent with rocket exhaust or propulsion,” shortly after the sounds were heard.

The Chinese rocket was launched between 6:14 p.m. and 6:42 p.m. from the Hainan International Commercial Launch Center in Wenchang, Hainan Province, the PCG said.

While no immediate threats to public safety or maritime navigation were reported, the PCG urged mariners and the public to remain vigilant and report any sightings of possible debris.

Second time

This marked the second rocket launch by China in just two months. In July, designated drop zones for rocket parts were mapped out as 94 km from Recto Bank, 218 km from Busuanga, 61 km from Balabac, and 163 km from Cabra Island in Occidental Mindoro.

The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) was placed on alert after the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) issued a notice on Monday regarding the launch, warning of potential falling debris.

According to PhilSA, two specific drop zones were identified: DZ1, located 39 km east of Puerto Princesa, and DZ2, approximately 33 km off Tubbataha Reefs in Cagayancillo.

CDRRMO chief Earl Timbancaya told the Inquirer their team actively monitored the rocket launch and there were no sightings of possible debris so far.

Since 2022, China has launched several rockets, many of which have designated drop zones near Palawan and the WPS, raising ongoing concerns about falling debris in Philippine waters.

In August 2022, debris from a Long March 5B rocket was reported to have fallen southwest of Puerto Princesa into the Sulu Sea. Wescom dispatched a search and retrieval team, but no tangible debris was found.

Another Long March 5B rocket was launched in November 2022 in the waters west of Busuanga Island and Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, which were identified as a potential drop zone. That same month, a fisherman in Busuanga recovered a piece of metal later confirmed to be part of a Chinese rocket.

In December 2022, Philippine Navy personnel retrieved a piece of rocket debris west of Pagasa Island. However, while being towed by Navy personnel aboard a rubberized inflatable boat, China Coast Guard personnel intercepted the team and forcefully took the debris.

Residents of Bataraza reported seeing a bright light in the sky followed by an explosion in January 2023.

The 2023 incident was initially suspected to be related to China’s Long March 7A or 3B rocket launches. However, PhilSA later said the bright light may have been caused by a meteoroid entering Earth’s atmosphere.

A search conducted by Wescom at that time, in coordination with the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Office, Philippine Coast Guard, and Philippine National Police, found no trace of debris.

Also in January 2023, waters off Babuyan Island were designated as a drop zone for a Long March 7A rocket.

PhilSA reported that debris from a Long March 3B rocket fell 126 km from Rozul (Iroquois) Reef and 30 km from Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea in December 2023.

In January 2024, Panatag and waters west of Cabra Island in Lubang, Occidental Mindoro, were again marked as possible drop zones. /cb