Haze cancels flights in Bohol; at least 450 stranded in airport

The Cebu City skyline is covered in haze that experts say reduced visibility from 10 to 7 km. The haze which also hovers in nearby Bohol have triggered the cancellation of flights to and from the province. CEBU DAILY NEWS PHOTO

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol—The haze hovering in the province on Saturday triggered the cancellation of flights, according to the local Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) office.

As of 2 p.m. on Saturday, at least 450 passengers were stranded at the Tagbilaran Airport after Air Philippines/PAL Express, Cebu Pacific, and Air Asia cancelled flights to and from Manila because of the haze.

“We have cancelled our flights today since it was difficult for pilots to land and take off with very poor visibility,” said Karen Batuhinay, Cebu Pacific operations manager.

Leonardo Samar, in charge of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) Bohol station, said the prevailing haze in the province was triggered by forest fires in Indonesia.

He added that Typhoon “Lando,” which battered central Luzon over the weekend, also contributed to the haze.

Around 8 a.m. on Saturday, Samar said the thick haze stretched all over Bohol, limiting visibility to about seven kilometers instead of the usual 14 km.

Samar assured that there was nothing to worry about because the haze was at a tolerable level.

Tagbilaran City resident Anita Dacaldacal, 46, said she could hardly see Panglao Island which used to be visible from her house.

“The air was very smoky. I can’t see Panglao Island clearly,” said Dacaldacal.

The haze also covered the mountains of Maribojoc town.

The neighboring Cebu Island, which used to be visible from Tagbilaran, was also covered with thick smoke. Leo Udtohan/RC

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