Flights resumed after fog in Xinjiang

Flights have been resumed at the main airport in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, after a thick fog closed in on the city Thursday morning.

Heavy fog started to shroud the Urumqi International Airport at around 7 a.m.. At least 50 flights were grounded or unable to land due to poor runway visibility, and more than 9,000 passengers were stranded.

The fog, which lasted for more than four hours, started to clear at noon. A total of 47 delayed outbound flights have taken off as of 4 p.m., and most of the stranded passengers were able to leave, according to the airport operational center.

They said more outbound flights may be delayed later today due to a flight backlog.