There was panic at Entebbe International Airport on Tuesday afternoon after a fire outbreak was reported in the passenger terminal building leading to smoke in the passenger waiting lounges near gates 2A and 2B.
A source said the 3 pm fire was caused by a short circuit in the ceiling due to ongoing expansion works at the airport.
When the reporter visited the airport it was busy with several arriving travellers seen departing the parking area while a good number of intending travellers were seen seated outside the departures terminal following the fire which the aviation authority officials at the airport described as minor.
“Passengers and all the other users of Entebbe International Airport were immediately evacuated as the UCAA Rescue and Fire-fighting Services team handled the situation, which was normalized by 3:45 pm.
Passenger operations have since resumed,” said Mr Vianney Luggya, the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority manager of public affairs.
According to him, the incident did not lead to any casualties.
“The source and cause of the fire are being investigated. Inconveniences caused by the incident to the departing passengers and other users of Entebbe International Airport are highly regretted,” Mr Luggya added in a Tuesday afternoon statement.
Source: Monitor
