Yolanda shuts down 12 airports

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) - Supertyphoon Yolanda, as its sweeps through Visayas at the moment, suspended over 450 flights and closed down at least 12 local airports on Friday.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) announced on its Twitter account at around noontime on Friday that strong winds and heavy rains pounding through the region  caused 12 airports to suspend operations in the morning.

The Tacloban, Surigao, Kalibo, Roxas, Caticlan, Iloilo, Romblon, Legazpi, Masbate and Dumaguete have shut down as of 12 p.m.

Palawan Airport in Busuaga, Coron followed suit an hour later, and Bacolod Airport closed down around 2:30 p.m.

Closed airports: Tacloban, Surigao, Kalibo, Roxas, Caticlan, Iloilo, Romblon, Legazpi, Masbate and Dumaguete.

— CAAP_ORCC (@CAAP_Operations) November 8, 2013

At 5:55 a.m. on Friday, CAAP deputy director general Capt. John Andrews ordered all airports in areas expected to be hit by the powerful cyclone to suspend operations.

Cebu Airport, location of which is under a storm signal no. 4, is still open  even as all southbound commercial flights have been suspended.

Total of Cancelled flights as of 1200H pic.twitter.com/SWQJQaljVD

— NAIA (@naia_miaa) November 8, 2013