Heavy fog disrupts trains, flights in China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2012-02-22

BEIJING - Two Beijing-Shanghai high-speed trains, G119 and G121, have been canceled and some have been delayed due to dense fog sweeping east Tianjin city and central Hebei province Wednesday morning, according to the Beijing Railway Administration's blog on Sina Weibo.

Air traffic is also affected. Thick fog has blanketed Shanghai Pudong International Airport since 9 am on Tuesday, and it was not completely dispersed until 7 am on Wednesday.

More than 150 flights have been delayed or diverted to alternative airports due to the poor visibility and eight of them, carrying about 1,500 passengers, landed at Qingdao airport in east Shandong province.

In the southernmost island of Hainan, Haikou Meilan International Airport has been closed due to the fog, according to operators.

The shipping service connecting the island to the mainland across the Qiongzhou Strait has been suspended since 1:20 am on Wednesday by local maritime authorities.

The National Meteorological Center warned at 8 am on Wednesday of heavy fog in central and eastern China, with visibility reduced to less than 200 meters in some areas.