Gales strand almost 4,000 passengers at Urumqi airport

URUMQI - Strong winds that started on Saturday afternoon have stranded almost 4,000 passengers as of 4 pm at Diwopu International Airport in Urumqi, capital of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

According to the airport, 14 outbound flights and another 14 incoming flights have been canceled, and a total of 76 flights were delayed due to the extreme weather.

Thirty flights had to land in other cities in Xinjiang or neighboring provinces, with another two making a return voyage.

A total of 3,829 passengers have been stranded in the three terminals of the airport.

The city's weather bureau said the wind is expected to wane after 6 pm.