Japan earthquake disrupts air freight

TORONTO: The massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan on Friday, March 11 forced the closure of Tokyo’s Narita Airport, the country’s largest air cargo facility.

KWE, a freight forwarder, reports that its facilities were completely closed at Narita because the electricity and water systems are down.

Haneda airport, also in Tokyo, reported at least partial closure after the quake.

According to a bulletin from KWE, Japan Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, British Airways and All Nippon Airways cancelled all their flights to Tokyo on Friday.

News reports say that Narita partially re-opened at the end of the day.

The temblor was felt most forcefully approximately 370km north east of Tokyo.

Sendai Airport, on the country’s east coast, was reported by Kyodo news agency to be completely inundated by a 10-metre tsunami that followed the earthquake. TV images show the runways awash and a crowd of people standing on the roof of the main building.

..more to come…