ZCZC
BFF-08
JAPAN-QUAKE-FLIGHT-BEGIN
Japan’s New Chitose Airport in quake-hit Hokkaido resumes int’l flights
TOKYO, Sept 8, 2018 (BSS/XINHUA) – New Chitose Airport, the main gateway
to Japan’s quake-hit Hokkaido prefecture, has resumed international flights
Saturday morning, the government said.
According to Japan’s transport ministry, about 90 international flights
were scheduled to depart from and arrive at the airport near Sapporo during
the day.
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.7, struck Hokkaido
prefecture at 3:08 a.m. local time Thursday (1808 GMT Wednesday).
As of Saturday morning, a total of 18 people have been confirmed dead, two
others in state of cardiopulmonary arrest, and some 22 people remain missing.
New Chitose Airport, the main gateway to Hokkaido, was closed throughout
Thursday due to damages from the quake as well as a power outage that
affected the whole prefecture.
The airport restarted services for domestic flights on Friday, though many
passengers were unable to book seats on flights out of Hokkaido due to the
masses of people waiting to leave.
BSS/XINHUA/SSS/0928 hrs