CAAP suspends flights to and from Zamboanga due to flooding

Aviation authorities on Tuesday suspended flights to and from the Zamboanga International Airport due to flooding at the airport's runway.

 

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines issued a Notice to Airmen barring flights to and from the airport from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., radio dzBB's Sam Nielsen reported.

 

The report said at least four domestic flights to and from Zamboanga International Airport had been canceled due to the heavy rain and floods.

 

CAAP will issue another Notice to Airmen on Wednesday to signal if it is clear to resume flights at the Zamboanga City International Airport.

 

Earlier Tuesday, the city government suspended classes and work in non-frontline services due to the heavy rain and floods.

 

The Office of Civil Defense also said many roads in Zamboanga City were not passable to vehicles Tuesday morning due to floods brought by heavy rain.

 

Eric Castillo of OCD Region 9 said vehicles stalled along thoroughfares like Pilar Street due to the floods, radio dzBB's Rodil Vega reported.

 

Many families were evacuated from their homes in districts like Divisoria due to the floods, even as the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy helped in the evacuation.

 

Zamboanga City has yet to recover fully from the effects of last month's fighting between government and Moro National Liberation Front forces. — RSJ, GMA News