By Azer N. Parrocha
MANILA, July 30 (PNA) — Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) personnel were quickly and successfully able to evacuate the MIAA Administration Building during the metro-wide earthquake drill conducted on Thursday.
According to MIAA, occupants of the building were able to evacuate in only four minutes, which was relative to the standard evacuation time of seven minutes and 30 seconds.
The drill ensued for over an hour, beginning 10:30 am. Normal operations were resumed after the drill.
MIAA is among the many government agencies which took part in the Metro Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) metro-wide earthquake drill in preparation for a 7.2 magnitude quake that may possibly hit Metro Manila.
Jose Angel Honrado, MIAA general manager, said that while it was not possible to predict when an earthquake would occur, it was possible to prepare for its possible consequences.
“Aside from ensuring that the terminals are structurally sound, airport users also need to be prepared,” Honrado said in a statement.
To recall, tabletop exercises among Emergency Response Teams were conducted in all the terminals in the past weeks.
The exercises also included briefings regarding the airport’s earthquake emergency plan, which covers evacuation procedures and assembly areas per terminal.
MIAA has so far assessed its existing emergency plan and disseminated information materials to its employees as part of its preparations.
Evacuation plan
Although airline passengers were not required to take part in MIAA’s drill, the authority said that it would do its part by disseminating information on its evacuation plan.
In order to evacuate safely, MIAA said that passengers inside the airport should use main entrances or emergency exits in proceeding to open space or parking.
However, if passengers are already inside the pre departure area and past immigration, they may exit through boarding gates going to apron where airports are parked.
Each terminal has different evacuation assembly points.
Terminal 1, for instance, has three assembly points—the arrival area before security checkpoint, and two apron areas where aircraft parked.
Meanwhile, Terminal 2 passengers can opt to exit to the parking lot in front of control tower, the South Wing gate, or the North Wing VIP gate.
There are nine assembly areas in Terminal 3, namely the departure curbside area, four parking lot areas, and four apron spaces. It has about 50 to 60 emergency exits.
Finally, Terminal 4 has two assembly areas—the parking space, and the apron area. (PNA)