Scores of Chinese travelers stranded

BEIJING - Hundreds of Chinese travelers were stranded across major European cities over the weekend as the volcanic ash cloud cut off air traffic between China and large parts of Europe. At least 500 travelers were stranded in Paris as the disruption shut down the Charles de Gaulle airport, according to the Chinese embassy there. Most other European airports, including big ones like London's Heathrow and Frankfurt, were also closed.

Jin Chunlei, press counselor of the Chinese embassy in France, said the embassy had received dozens of calls over the weekend from Chinese individual and group tourists seeking assistance. The tourists faced difficulties like expiring visas, need for medicines, and lack of hotel accommodation, Jin said, adding all their needs were taken care of by Saturday afternoon.

In Sweden, Chinese Counselor Yang Shuaiqi said more than 60 Chinese were stranded by Sunday. They were now staying in local hotels, waiting for airlines to fly them back to Beijing, he said. "Though their mood is currently stable, (I) worry if there'll be problems if the wait prolongs. But we can only wait now," Yang said, adding the Stockholm-Arlanda airport cancelled its first flight to China as early as Thursday.