Residents were stunned as they watched a bright stream of rocket debris fly across the sky in the Philippines.

Footage shows locals gathered outside as they were fixated on the glowing fragments streaking in the dark horizon in Bohol province in the early hours of December 4.

Resident Jay Ryan Bautista said: 'It was my first time to see a space rocket debris.'

The Philippine Space Agency later said they were debris from China's Long March 3B rocket launch.

The agency issued an advisory about the launch from Xichang Satellite Launch Centre a day before on December 3, although they clarified it would not pose a threat to ships, planes, fishing boats, or vessels in the area.

Space colonisation efforts have gained momentum in recent years, driven by both private enterprises - like Elon Musk's SpaceX - and governments aiming to establish permanent habitats beyond Earth. This includes the strategic use of Earth's orbit for satellites and other space infrastructure.

At its core, space colonisation envisions creating self-sustaining communities on other planets, moons, or within space stations. Supporters claim the ultimate goal is to expand humanity's presence in space, ensuring long-term survival and reducing dependence on Earth.