S. Korean tourists stranded in Saipan due to typhoon returning home
- 5 years ago
Our top story this morning.
South Koreans stranded on the Pacific island of Saipan due to a typhoon there last week having been... and are continuing to return home.
The government here in Seoul expects the vast majority of them to be off the island by the end of today
Oh Jung-hee has more.
South Korean tourists who were stranded on the Pacific Island of Saipan after it was hit by a typhoon last week... are returning home on Sunday and Monday.
Arriving at the nation's main gateway, Incheon International Airport,... they described their ordeal and expressed relief at being home.
"The windows at our hotel shook really hard and the first floor was flooded. The elevators didn't work either, so we had to walk up the stairs."
"I'm not really sure how strong it was, but my body shook left and right even though I didn't move at all."
On Saturday, the South Korean government dispatched a military plane to Saipan.
It's gone back and forth between Saipan and Guam,... moving more than 70 people to Guam from Saipan.
Then, South Korean chartered planes bring them from Guam to Incheon.
The rescue process has been gaining speed since Saipan reopened its airport on Sunday, so now chartered flights are being sent directly to the island.
The authorities expect roughly 600 people to return to South Korea on Sunday... and another 1-thousand on Monday.
"This is an emergency situation caused by a natural disaster. We're giving priority to the elderly, pregnant women, and those with illnesses. We'll do our best to provide the necessary supplies."
Seoul's transport ministry says there will be four South Korean planes flying from Saipan to Incheon on Monday that will hopefully have brought back most of the South Korean tourists.
But the situation could change depending on weather conditions on Saipan and circumstances at the airport.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.
South Koreans stranded on the Pacific island of Saipan due to a typhoon there last week having been... and are continuing to return home.
The government here in Seoul expects the vast majority of them to be off the island by the end of today
Oh Jung-hee has more.
South Korean tourists who were stranded on the Pacific Island of Saipan after it was hit by a typhoon last week... are returning home on Sunday and Monday.
Arriving at the nation's main gateway, Incheon International Airport,... they described their ordeal and expressed relief at being home.
"The windows at our hotel shook really hard and the first floor was flooded. The elevators didn't work either, so we had to walk up the stairs."
"I'm not really sure how strong it was, but my body shook left and right even though I didn't move at all."
On Saturday, the South Korean government dispatched a military plane to Saipan.
It's gone back and forth between Saipan and Guam,... moving more than 70 people to Guam from Saipan.
Then, South Korean chartered planes bring them from Guam to Incheon.
The rescue process has been gaining speed since Saipan reopened its airport on Sunday, so now chartered flights are being sent directly to the island.
The authorities expect roughly 600 people to return to South Korea on Sunday... and another 1-thousand on Monday.
"This is an emergency situation caused by a natural disaster. We're giving priority to the elderly, pregnant women, and those with illnesses. We'll do our best to provide the necessary supplies."
Seoul's transport ministry says there will be four South Korean planes flying from Saipan to Incheon on Monday that will hopefully have brought back most of the South Korean tourists.
But the situation could change depending on weather conditions on Saipan and circumstances at the airport.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.