MANILA, Philippine - Residents of Barangay Daga in Panay, Capiz thought debris from the defunct NASA research satellite came falling upon them.
At around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, a flare was seen falling towards a field in the area, causing fear among the residents, who had just seen the news on television that debris from the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) have come crashing down on earth.
Upon closer look by policemen and employees of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), however, it was only an aluminum tube wrapped in masking tape, plastic, and pieces of cloth.
Panay Police chief Inspector Bryant Fallera and Barangay Captain Eligario Billones believe it is just an improvised pyrotechnic.