Suspected rocket debris was found floating in waters off Pangutaran, Sulu, on December 30, raising fresh alarm over falling space junk in Philippine seas.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said a local fisherman recovered the object at sea and towed it near Barangay Suang Bunah. While initial reports made no mention of identifying marks, photos later released by the PCG appeared to show debris bearing Chinese flag markings.

According to the Pangutaran Municipal Police Station, the fisherman retrieved the alleged rocket debris on December 30, 2025. The object is currently secured by Barangay Suang Bunah.

“The recovered debris is currently under the custody of Barangay Suang Bunah,” the Coast Guard Sub-Station Pangutaran said.

As of press time, the Coast Guard Station Western Sulu is coordinating with barangay officials for the possible transfer of custody to the PCG for proper handling, investigation, and disposal.

The discovery comes amid recent warnings over falling rocket debris in Philippine waters. Earlier this week, the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) cautioned that debris from a Chinese Long March 7A rocket — launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan at around 6:40 a.m. local time — could fall within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

PhilSA initially identified two possible drop zones: one west of the Ilocos region and another east of the Cagayan Valley, both well within Philippine maritime jurisdiction. The agency said the information was issued through a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) ahead of the launch and shared with relevant authorities.

Officials warned that rocket components such as boosters and fairings may not fully burn up upon reentry, posing serious risks to ships, fishing boats, aircraft, and other vessels passing through affected areas.

The Coast Guard renewed its call for the public — especially fishermen — to remain vigilant and immediately report any unusual or potentially hazardous objects found at sea, stressing that unidentified debris could pose grave safety risks.

📷 Philippine Coast Guard FB