Kansai Airport flooded by Typhoon Jebi, 5,000 stranded: report

Typhoon Jebi has forced the shutdown of Kansai
International Airport in Japan.
AP

• Typhoon Jebi is the most powerful
  storm of its type to hit Japan in 25 years. The storm made
  landfall on Tuesday with winds of up to 130 mph.
• Nine people have reportedly died as a result of the
  storm, with another 300 injured. 
• The typhoon has forced the shutdown of Kansai International Airport
  in Osaka Bay.
• About
  5,000 passengers are stranded at the facility as a result
  of severe flooding. 
• In addition, a runaway oil tanker drifted into and
  damaged the bridge connecting the airport to the
  mainland.

Typhoon Jebi is the most
powerful storm of its type to hit Japan in a quarter-century. The
storm made landfall in southwestern Japan with winds of up to 130
mph, The New York Times reported.

According to Japanese national broadcaster NHK, nine people have died as a
result of the storm, with another 300 injured. 

The storm also did serious damage to Kansai International
Airport, one of Asia’s most important airports. Kansai, which is
located on a manmade island in Osaka Bay, has been shut down as a
result of severe flooding.

AP

 Japan’s transport ministry told NHK that several aircraft at the
airport are submerged up to their engines. 

All flights are canceled, with the
airport indicating that it has no plans to re-open its
runways on Wednesday. As a result, Kansai International
Airport has apologized to the roughly 5,000 travelers currently
stranded at the facility. 

AP

In addition, an oil tanker that was anchored in the bay was swept
by the storm into the main bridge connecting the airport with the
mainland, the Japan Times reported. The
ship did considerable damage to the bridge. Fortunately, the
ship’s crew of 11 were not injured in the incident. 

Kansai International Airport serves the Keihanshin Metropolitan
Region, which includes major population hubs in Osaka, Kyoto, and
Kobe. In 2017, the airport saw nearly 29 million
passengers.