The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) on Wednesday urged parking users at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) complex to avoid bringing flammable materials or leaving these inside their vehicles, especially when left unattended under the sun’s heat.
MIAA general manager Eric Jose Ines said car owners should not carry any flammable liquids and materials (lighter fluid, aerosol cans, and alcohol) inside their vehicles to prevent accidents and ensure safety.
Ines also ordered his men to cut and remove the grass in the area.
The airport chief stated that the heat index in the NAIA area was at a high of 42 degrees when the incident happened.
Initial unofficial reports found that the incident began from a small grass fire that spread quickly because of the strong wind, resulting in the recent incident that damaged at least 19 cars.
However, investigators at the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) are not discounting the possibility that flammable material inside one of the damaged cars caused the blaze.
Airport management let the BFP continue its probe and directed all pertinent MIAA units to give their full support to the agency for the speedy completion of their investigation.
Meanwhile, airport officials are now assisting the affected car owners in resolving the issue with the management of Philippine Skylanders International (PSI), the private concessionaire in charge of the parking lot, who assured Ines that they would shoulder all the damages.
As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, 10 affected car owners appeared and contacted MIAA and PSI officials to claim compensation for the damages.