ANGELES CITY – A powerful earthquake that jolted Central Luzon on Monday afternoon has forced authorities to stop operation of the Clark International Airport after its ceiling above the check in counter collapsed.
The Clark airport, formerly the Military Airlift Command or MAC Terminal of the US 13th Air Force Base, had suffered extensive damage. Aside from the destroyed ceiling that exposed wirings, shards of glasses have also scattered in the Clark terminal. The Control Tower in front of the Clark International Airport Corporation, has also sustained a broken glass panel but the runway is still in good condition.
The Clark airport will be closed for 24 hours starting 7:40pm on Monday, according to airport authorities.
There were no reported casualties at Clark airport although passengers and airport workers have scampered for safety during the violent 6.1 magnitude tremor that lasted for several minutes. Seven persons have reportedly suffered minor injuries when a part of the ceiling at the check-in lobby collapsed. They were brought for treatment at a nearby hospital.
In a statement, CIAC President and CEO Jaime Melo said international and domestic flights have been suspended due to the earthquake.
The airport crisis team informed the media there were no damages caused by the earthquake to the airport’s runway and taxiway. “We have to ensure the soundness of the building structure and other facilities as we are assessing other structural damages around the airport,” said Melo.
Cebu Pacific has announced cancellation of six flights at Clark and these are:
· 5J 120 Clark-Hong Kong
· 5J 121 Hong Kong-Clark
· 5J 370 Clark-Macau
· 5J 371 Macau-Clark
· 5J 608 Clark-Cebu
· 5J 609 Cebu-Clark