MANILA, Philippines — Zamboanga International Airport’s (ZIA) resumed normal operations Thursday afternoon after cracks were spotted in parts of the passenger terminal following a magnitude 5.4 earthquake that struck the Zamboanga Peninsula, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) announced.
Zamboanga del Norte province was struck by a magnitude 5.4 earthquake – initially reported as a magnitude 6.1 quake – at around 11:45 a.m. on Jan. 23, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.
Article continues after this advertisement“While critical airport facilities sustained no significant structural damage, visible cracks were detected on the walls and ceilings of ZIA’s Passenger Terminal Building,” the CAAP reported in an advisory on Thursday afternoon.
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As precautionary measures, airport personnel and passengers were evacuated and landing and takeoff operations were suspended while authorities inspected the building.
Article continues after this advertisementAfter inspections, normal operations resumed in the Zamboanga International Airport, the CAAP said in a message to INQUIRER.net on Thursday afternoon.
Article continues after this advertisement“Other airports in the region, including Pagadian Airport, Dipolog Airport, and Ipil Airport, reported no damages and remain fully operational, ” CAAP{ added.
Article continues after this advertisementPhivolcs said aftershocks were possible from the Zamboanga del Norte quake.
Likewise, the CAAP reported no damages to airports in Southern Leyte, following a magnitude 5.8 earthquake in that province earlier on Thursday morning.
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In a statement on Friday, the DOTr said it had inked a transaction advisory service agreement with the World Bank Group unit to lay out the airport project’s terms of reference (TOR).