Red lightning alert temporarily suspends Naia operations

Terminal 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). (Image from miaa.gov.ph)

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) temporarily suspended airport operations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) on Thursday afternoon following a lightning advisory.

Airport operations were suspended after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) issued a red lightning alert at 5:04 p.m.

“Flight and ground operations at the NAIA are suspended. The alert is a safety measure taken to prevent untoward incidents from happening when lightning is prevalent in the immediate area and may endanger personnel, passengers, and even flight operations,” said MIAA in an advisory.

Flight operations resumed at 5:31 p.m. after Pagasa lowered the lightning alert to yellow status.

Pagasa earlier said that a newly formed low-pressure area (LPA) was forecast to bring rain across the Visayas, the Bicol region, and the Zamboanga Peninsula on Thursday.

The said weather disturbance also further strengthened the effect of the southwest monsoon, locally known as the habagat, which is currently affecting Luzon, including Metro Manila.

/MUF