Thunderstorms strand over 13,000 passengers at Chengdu airport

CHENGDU, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Around 13,000 passengers were stranded in Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in southwest China's Sichuan Province, due to thunderstorms Friday morning.

Airport authorities said six flights were canceled, 113 outbound flights were delayed, and eight inbound flights landed at alternate airports.

The thunderstorms hit Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, from 3:40 a.m. Friday. The airport's runways, which were closed for hours, have now reopened.

The number of affected flights is likely to rise throughout Friday as the thunderstorms continue.