Do Not Be Too Alarmed People In Belait Told On Falling Satellite 

Kuala Belait - People should not be unduly concerned about the possibility of fragments of satellite falling on Brunei.

Latest information received said that fragments from a malfunctioning Italian satellite, Beppo-Sax, which is expected to fall to earth at about 7.26am today.

The Ministry of Communications has set up an information centre to provide updates on the incident where the fragments are expected to fall on the southern part of Brunei.

However, the likelihood of these fragments falling within the areas is extremely remote, said a Communication Ministry official. Members of the public, especially residents in those affected areas have been asked not to be alarmed.

The district's emergency action committee, held the meeting at the Belait District Office to discuss preparations to deal with problems from the falling fragments,

The district's reactivated emergency action committee meeting was chaired by the Belait District Officer, Awang Adnan and attended by several government agencies that make up the committee.

The meeting called on members of the public especially residents in the affected areas not to be unduly apprehensive.

The 1,400-kilogramme Beppo-Sax Satellite malfunctioned in April last year after six years in operation.

Since then, the satellite, which was 240 kilometres from earth is out of control from its control centre in Rome. Only 47 percent or 650-kilogrammes from its original weight will fall to earth.

The satellite will break into around 40 fragments and the largest fragment weighs 120-kilogrammes.

It takes 45 minutes to reach the earth at a speed of between 60 and 460 kilometres an hour.

The likelihood of the fragments falling to rural areas of the Belait, Tutong and Temburong districts is extremely remote.

The falling fragments were in the form of stainless steel and titanium which contained hydrazine propellant from chemical battery and contained poison but no radioactive.

The chairman of the Belait district emergency action committee explained that the affected areas are along the equator between +4.36 degrees north and -4.36 degrees south.

Members of the public who found the fragments are asked not to touch or smell them. The public will be informed from time to time on the development of the falling debris. For more information they can contact hotline 199. -- Courtesy of Radio Television Brunei

Brudirect.com News