MANILA, Philippines — A portion of the ceiling at the Bicol International Airport (BIA) collapsed, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Friday.
No injuries were reported after the panel in the well wishers area fell in front of a restaurant at around 5:50 p.m. on Thursday. First responders from the CAAP Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS) Landside Unit and the Airport Medical Team immediately secured the scene.
The area was restricted for public and staff safety. CAAP engineering teams have assessed the damage, with repair and restoration works to commence upon completion of safety clearance procedures.
"We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and concern this incident may have caused. We assure the public that immediate preventive measures are already being undertaken to address the issue and to ensure that similar incidents do not happen again,” CAAP Director General Raul del Rosario said.
Airport authorities and CAAP are investigating the structural failure. CAAP reiterates its commitment to passenger safety and operational integrity.