3 400 stranded at Tokyo airport

Passengers sit and sleep on the floor as they wait for flights, many of which were delayed or canceled due to heavy snowfall, at Narita International Airport, outside of Tokyo.

Passengers sit and sleep on the floor as they wait for flights, many of which were delayed or canceled due to heavy snowfall, at Narita International Airport, outside of Tokyo.

Published Jan 15, 2013

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Tokyo -

Tokyo's Narita International Airport operator says 3 400 travellers spent the night in the terminal after snow caused airlines to cancel 71 flights.

In the season's first snowfall in the Japanese capital, about 8 centimetres of snow fell in central Tokyo and around Narita on Monday - a national holiday in Japan. The snow snarled traffic and caused train delays.

Airport officials distributed sleeping bags, water and crackers to stranded travellers. Normal flight operations at Narita resumed on Tuesday, except for a few delays.

Major train operator JR East said trains were running on schedule on Tuesday.

Sections of several highways around Tokyo were still closed on Tuesday as workers cleared away snow and ice.

Sapa-AP

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