(INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES)
MANILA, Philippines— The Manila International Airport Authority temporarily suspended flight and ground operations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) due to a red lightning advisory.
The MIAA Airport Ground Operations and Safety Division (AGOSD) issued the Lightning Red Alert at 8:53AM on Saturday.
“Flight and ground operations at the NAIA are suspended. The alert is a safety measure taken to prevent untoward incidents from happening when lightnings are prevalent in the immediate area and may endanger personnel, passengers and even flight operations,” stated MIAA in an advisory.
The state weather bureau Pagasa on Saturday said rain showers, thunder, and lightning due to localized thunderstorms are possible.
“During severe thunderstorms, itong mga pag-ulan na ito ay posible pa rin maging katamtaman hanggang sa mga malalakas na pag-ulan na maaaring magdulot ng mga pagbaha at pagguho ng lupa,” Pagasa weather specialist Grace Castañeda in the forecast.
(During severe thunderstorms, light to heavy rain may prevail and could cause floods and landslides.)