Hundreds stranded by Langkawi runway closure

Shades of grey: Visibility is a challenge at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport due to the haze. — Bernama

GEORGE TOWN: Hundreds of tourists and locals were stranded after 13 departure flights were cancelled at the Langkawi International Airport in Kedah.

Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), which revealed this in a statement, said the runway in Langkawi was closed for three hours and 15 minutes as visibility was only 500m at 8.25am yesterday.

“The runway was reopened at 11.40am when the visibility improved to 700m,” it added.

The Air Pollutant Index (API) readings in Langkawi were 129 (at 7am), 143 (11am) and 156 (3pm).

In Bayan Lepas and Butterworth, horizontal visibility was 2km at 3pm.

Meanwhile, isolated rain in the morning in several areas in Penang failed to clear the haze.

The API readings at the monitoring station at 3pm in Prai was 125, Seberang Jaya 2, 141 and Universiti Sains Malaysia 142.

George Town OCPD Asst Comm Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said face masks would be given to police on outdoors duty.

“They will have to wear face masks to minimise the negative effects of the haze.

“We are carrying out road blocks as usual,” he said.