Flights at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, were abruptly interrupted yesterday afternoon. This happened when a section of the ceiling at Terminal 3 caved in following a heavy downpour.
Observers reported seeing water leak from the roof just above Gate 7, then pour in torrents before panels began to give way. That was a little before 2 pm.
The sudden collapse of the roof and the flooding of the floor caused panic among passengers, who ran around seeking to escape the site.
It is suspected that the roof structure had gradually weakened, and subsequently, rainwater began to permeate through. Consequently, water may have accumulated on the ceiling until it became too heavy for the weakened ceiling to support.
Heavy Rains in Jakarta
Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, has recently been experiencing heavy rains. While this is not unusual given that the country experiences heavy rain between January and March, the rain has been unusually heavy in April.
The meteorological department has warned people that the rains will continue in the first part of April. So far, these rains have caused flooding in the western and southern parts of the city.
CGK Airport is Operational
After the unfortunate roof incident, it did not take long for flights to resume at CGK airport. After all, Terminal 3 is not the only international terminal at the airport.
However, passengers are advised to call their airlines first before proceeding to the airport. This is because there may be changes in flight schedules due to factors other than the broken roof.
Yesterday’s incident caused temporary flight disruptions. 12 aircraft were diverted to other airports, while 13 were forced to make some rounds before receiving clearance to land at CGK. Despite those inconveniences, the runways and taxiways at the airport are reported to be safe and in good condition for use.