5,000 stranded at airport as Jebi approaches

SANYA - About 5,000 tourists have been stranded at an airport in South China's Hainan province due to the arrival of strong tropical storm Jebi.

Some 100 flights have been cancelled at the Sanya Phoenix International Airport as of 1:30 pm Friday. They include 56 incoming flights and 43 outgoing flights, according to the airport.

The airport, together with airlines, are working to find accomodation for the stranded tourists.

Tropical storm Jebi strengthened to a strong tropical storm at 11 pm Thursday. It is expected to land near Hainan's city of Wenchang or Lingshui Li autonomous county Friday afternoon or night, according to the Hainan provincial weather forecast station.

Shipping services on the Qiongzhou Strait, a waterway that connects the island province of Hainan and Guangdong province on the mainland, have been suspended due to the storm's arrival.