NAIA inspects facilities
THE Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Emergency Response and Safety teams immediately inspected airport facilities after a magnitude 7 earthquake struck Tayum, Abra, and other northern provinces in the country, effects of which were also felt in Metro Manila.
The two runways of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) were declared safe for flight operations after no damage was seen on the pavements. Inspection of the four NAIA Terminals likewise yielded good results as no damage was also noted.
The MIAA Terminals and other buildings are equipped with accelerographs set at different thresholds based on the age and structural integrity of the edifice.
The accelerographs recorded an Intensity IV earthquake at 8:45 a.m., where an evacuation is “unnecessary”.
However, the International Cargo Terminal, where said device is set at a lower threshold, registered a red alarm prompting the mandatory evacuation of its occupants, who were later allowed to return to their offices after the building was declared safe.
As a result of the evacuation, minimal disruption to cargo processing was inevitable.
The MIAA Management assures the public that its emergency teams are always ready to react to any eventuality guided by its well-established Airport Emergency Plan (AEP) procedures.
