Cold Wave In East Asia Kills Over 50, Tens Of Thousands Stranded

At least 50 people, mostly the elderly, were killed in northern regions of Taiwan Sunday as temperatures slipped below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the BBC reported. Another five persons were reported killed in snow-related incidents in Japan, according to NHK World News.

More than 50 deaths, from hypothermia and cardiac disease, over the weekend were reported by Taiwanese media, according to the BBC, which added that authorities had warned citizens, especially the elderly, to stay indoors and keep warm. The cold weather claimed 40 lives in Taipei and another 17 people died in neighboring New Taipei City as temperatures hit a 16-year low, the Associated Press reported.

Four people died in Japan in snow-related incidents Sunday and another woman died Monday in a landslide that was likely triggered by snow, while the southwestern island of Okinawa recorded sleet for the first time Sunday evening, NHK World News reported. The report added that more than 100 flights had been cancelled Monday, after more than 500 had been cancelled Sunday. Japan’s meteorological agency expected the cold snap to get weaker Monday.

Hundreds of flights were also cancelled in South Korea where the temperature fell to record lows Sunday, Yonhap News Agency reported. While the temperature in Seoul fell to below zero degrees, its lowest since Jan. 15, 2001, about 600 flights — mostly to and from the holiday island of Jeju — were cancelled, stranding at least 60,000 tourists.

The runways at the airport in Jeju, which usually has warm climate that attracts tourists to its beaches, were closed Saturday due to heavy snow, and were expected to stay closed till at least Monday evening, local time.

The cold snap also affected Hong Kong and southern China, the BBC reported.