TACLOBAN CITY, April 3 -- The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) is eyeing to reopen the Tacloban airport runway by 4 p.m. Wednesday after hours of emergency repair.

CAAP Eastern Visayas area manager Danilo Abareta said the overlaying of asphalt is now ongoing after it was peeled off around 7:30 a.m. during the take-off of a Philippine Airlines aircraft.

After the incident, two Manila-bound commercial aircraft that arrived in the city early Wednesday were allowed to leave the airport before the total runway closure around 10 a.m.

"The affected area is about 12 square meters. It is located near the edge of the runway, but we must close the entire area for the safety of passengers because of the strong tailwind," Abareta ...