Hongkongers stranded after storm disrupts trains and roads to Narita Airport
Hong Kong tour groups returning from Japan’s capital are seeking alternative routes to Narita Airport after a record rainstorm on Thursday disrupted transport and left thousands of travellers stranded, including Hongkongers who spent the night on trains and at the airport. Cathay Pacific, the city’s flag carrier, said on Friday it would waive rebooking and rerouting fees to give affected…
Hongkongers returning from Japan found themselves stranded as a record rainstorm on Thursday disrupted transport to Narita Airport. Thousands were left without transportation, including those who spent the night on trains and at the airport. Cathay Pacific, the city's flag carrier, announced on Friday it would waive rebooking and rerouting fees to assist affected customers.
Tour group executive Steve Huen Kwok-chuen explained that an alternative route to Narita Airport, which is longer, was necessary due to road issues. Weather conditions improved by Friday morning, with clear skies in Chiba prefecture. Heavy rainfall, totaling over 360mm in 24 hours, caused flooding and power outages in parts of the prefecture, affecting nearly 25,000 households.
Despite the disruption, flights were scheduled to operate normally on Friday. Cathay Pacific's flights to and from Tokyo were unaffected, with no cancellations. Passengers could still rebook their flights, but would need to pay the fare and tax difference between their original and new itineraries. The ticket change must be completed before September 30th.
Hongkongers shared their experiences on social media, describing the challenges faced during the 15-hour journey and the difficulties in finding transportation due to flooded roads and abandoned vehicles.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
