ILOILO City — Air travel between Iloilo and General Santos City was disrupted Monday after a powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Mindanao prompted aviation authorities to suspend operations at General Santos Airport, forcing the cancellation of flights linking the two cities.
Among the affected flights were Cebu Pacific flights 5J4843 and 5J4844 operating the Iloilo-General Santos-Iloilo route, according to airport authorities.
The cancellations formed part of at least 17 flights suspended as of 10 a.m. following the strong earthquake that struck near Sarangani and triggered a tsunami warning.
Airport management advised affected passengers to immediately coordinate with their airlines or approach airline personnel for assistance regarding rebooking and other travel concerns.
The suspended flights included 11 Cebu Pacific services, four Philippine Express flights, and two Philippine Airlines flights connecting General Santos with Manila and Cebu.
Prior to the flight cancellations, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) announced the temporary suspension of operations at General Santos Airport following the earthquake and the tsunami warning issued by PHIVOLCS.
A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was issued covering the period from 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. while authorities conducted assessments of airport facilities and navigation equipment.
CAAP said inspections were necessary to ensure the safety and integrity of airport operations before flights could resume.
Passengers were likewise urged to monitor updates from their respective airlines regarding flight schedules and travel advisories.
Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed government agencies to immediately activate emergency response measures following the powerful earthquake that struck off the coast of Sarangani and prompted tsunami warnings in several parts of Mindanao.
In a statement, Marcos said the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) have been tasked to oversee monitoring and response operations in areas affected by the earthquake and its aftermath./PN
