Bushfire Triggers Prolonged Blackout At PH Int’l Airport

The Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State has been thrown into darkness following a bushfire that engulfed part of the airport’s surrounding bushes, last Tuesday, an official said.
The Manager of Corporate Communications, Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, Mr John Onyi, confirmed the development to newsmen in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
The fire incident occurred in the late hours of January 28, several weeks after a similar incident occurred at the same airport resulting in flight delays.
However, normal flight operations later resumed at the airport after three-days of closure, after the fire was extinguished.
According to Onyi, the latest fire incident destroyed PHED facilities, resulting in power cuts at the airport.
“The bush fire damaged over 14 high tension poles supplying electricity to the airport’s 33kv feeder.
“However, PHED technical crew have been mobilized to the site, with a view to erecting the poles and restoring power supply to the airport,” he said.
The spokesman appealed to airport authorities and travellers to be patience throughout the period repairs of the facilities would last.