NDRRMC temporarily lifts no-fly zone

MANILA, Philippines - The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) temporarily lifted yesterday the ban on flying, sailing and fishing in areas along the possible path of North Korea’s rocket, after bad weather forced the communist country to postpone the satellite launch.

NDRRMC executive director Benito Ramos said the implementation of the “no-fly zone,” “no-sail zone” and “no fishing zone” would resume at 5 a.m. today.

“The no-fly, no-sail, no fishing (zone) is lifted until 5 a.m. tomorrow (April 13),” Ramos said in a press briefing yesterday. 

”There is no need to be concerned for now because the time span has lapsed,” he added.

The ban was lifted after the time span that North Korea had provided for the rocket launch lapsed without the communist country executing its plan.

The rocket launch was expected sometime April 12 to 16 at 6 a.m. to 11 a.m.

As a precautionary measure, the ban would resume at 5 a.m. today or an hour before the time span provided by North Korea.

NDRRMC expected North Korea to launch the rocket yesterday morning after receiving reports that the communist country’s rocket launch window had been opened.

Ramos quoted Armed Forces deputy chief for intelligence Maj. Gen. Francisco Cruz Jr. as saying that the bad weather forced North Korea to defer the launch.

“Nokor (North Korea) rocket launch window is open. They assessed that due to weather and other considerations, launch could take place either today (April 12) or tomorrow (April 13), but they are confident it could be tomorrow as weather forecast is very favorable tomorrow,” a text message by Cruz read.  

Ramos said the basis of Cruz’s statement was an intelligence report by the United States Pacific Command.

“The rocket has been fueled. It’s all systems go. Indeed, Nokor will proceed with the launch,” Cruz’s message said.

Ramos said they expect North Korea to honor their word by undertaking the rocket launch during the time span it had provided.

Ramos reiterated that the public should avoid the 590-square mile “exclusion zone” or areas that may be affected in the event that the rocket debris falls on land.

NDRRMC said the areas that may be affected include Buguey, Gonzaga, Santa Ana of Cagayan; Palanan, Maconacon, Divilacan, Dinapigue; Casiguran, Dilasag, Dinalungan, Baler, and Dingalan in Aurora; Real, Infanta, Nakar in Quezon, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur.

Despite the temporary lifting of the fishing, flying and sailing ban, the NDRRMC remained on red alert status to monitor developments. Disaster management officials have been placed on red alert since March 21. – With Pia Lee-Brago, Helen Flores, Evelyn Macairan, Celso Amo