Heavy snowfall strands 1,600 passengers at Japanese airport, including many Koreans

It has been reported that over 1,600 passengers were stranded overnight at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, Japan. This was due to heavy snowfall on the 11th, which resulted in the cancellation of 118 flights. It is known that hundreds of South Korean tourists who were visiting Hokkaido were also affected.

According to local Japanese media such as NHK, over 1,600 passengers spent the night at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido on the 11th and the day before. This was due to 118 flights departing from New Chitose Airport being canceled that afternoon because of heavy snow and wind.

NHK reported that by 7 p.m. on the 11th, the Sapporo area in Hokkaido had already recorded a maximum snowfall of 73 cm due to the heavy snow. It is said that the visibility required for aircraft to take off from New Chitose Airport that day was only about 3 hours.

The Sapporo Snow Festival also contributed to the overnight situation for the 1,600 passengers. Many tourists flocked to Hokkaido to see the festival. To accommodate passengers who could not find a place to stay, the airport set up mats on the floor of the open terminal building where they had to spend the night.

It is reported that a significant number of South Koreans were among the passengers stranded at the airport. According to the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Sapporo, about 600 South Koreans were stranded at the airport overnight on the 11th. This means that 4 out of 10 passengers who tried to sleep at the airport were South Koreans.

Meanwhile, the effects of the heavy snowfall are still ongoing. While flight operations resumed on the 12th, it has been reported that the majority of flights are fully booked, making it difficult to secure additional seats. Airlines are currently arranging charter flights.