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JAPAN-TYPHOON-WEATHER
Typhoon stranded 17,000 at Tokyo airport: operator
TOKYO, Sept 10, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Around 17,000 passengers were stranded
overnight at Tokyo’s Narita Airport, an official said Tuesday, after it took
a direct hit from a powerful typhoon that caused transport chaos throughout
the capital.
The typhoon caused more than 100 flights to be scrapped and road and rail
links to the airport were also badly affected, leaving many with no transport
options to the city — 70 kilometres (45 miles) to the west.
Airport spokesman Kei Miyahara told AFP that a total of 16,900 were stuck
at the airport at midnight.
“Passengers are now beginning to go home or to their final destinations as
buses and trains have resumed operations,” Miyahara said early Tuesday.
Narita Airport, located in Chiba to the east of Tokyo, was right in the
line of fire of Typhoon Faxai, which brought winds of up to 207 kilometres
(129 miles) per hour.
Suburban trains throughout the huge Tokyo metropolitan area were not
reopened until 8 am on Monday as officials checked for debris and damage.
This sparked pandemonium during the notoriously busy morning commute.
The chaos came as Japan is preparing to host the Rugby World Cup later
this month and with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics just around the corner.
There was “minor” disruption to some teams’ schedules, admitted a Rugby
World Cup spokesman, with Australia’s arrival delayed and the England team
stuck for hours at the airport.
They passed the time in a particularly English way by playing cricket.
The airport said it delivered 2,000 bottles of water, 19,000 bags of
crackers and 18,000 bed rolls to stranded passengers.
“We delivered information in English and Japanese on digital signs, and
made announcements in four languages” including Chinese and Korean, said
Miyahara.
However, there was mass frustration and passengers complained about a lack
of information and long queues for taxis.
The airport operator will review their experiences and draw lessons later,
Miyahara said.
BSS/AFP/FI/1228 hrs