Ambon (Antara Maluku) -Incessant heavy rains since Wednesday have flooded Pattimura International Airport in the eastern Indonesian city of Ambon, Maluku, affecting passengers and delaying a number of flights.
The heavy rains caused the nearby Sikula river to overflow its banks and inundated the terminal area at the airport, forcing the prospective airplane passengers to wade through knee deep water.
The amount of rain water, combined with poor drainage in the surrounding area led to the flow of water towards the terminal area of the airport.
Car parking area at the airport was the most affected due to flooding that submerged a lot of cars, and caused inconvenienced to many prospective passengers.
The floods and thick fog that blanketed the Pattimura airport delayed the arrival of a number of planes from Jakarta, Surabaya, and Makassar.
Batik Air plane from Jakarta should have arrived at Pattimura airport at 5.40 am local time but the floods and thick fog forced the aircraft to circle the airport several times before deciding to land in Makassar.
Besides Batik Air, Lion Air and Wing Air were also unable to land at the airport.
Pattimura-based Angkasa Pura-I General Manager Hailendra said the airport was closed for three hours before it was reopened at 8.30 am East Indonesia Standard Time.
"The heavy rainfall reaches 432.2 millimeter per second and the visibility was less than 1.2 km since 5 am so it is very dangerous for airplanes that will take off and landing," Hailendra said.
Pattimura Airport Flooded
Kamis, 25 Juli 2013 15:22 WIB