237 flights affected as C China airport closes in blizzard

ZHENGZHOU -?More than 10,000 passengers were left stranded Tuesday as more than 230 flights were canceled or delayed in the capital of central China's Henan Province due to heavy snow.

As of 4 p.m., 116 flights had been delayed and 121 flights in and out of Xinzheng airport in Zhengzhou had been canceled as the blizzard led to the airport's closure.

The airport is expected to reopen at 10 p.m., Xinzheng Airport said.

Local meteorological authorities have issued a red alert, the highest of a four-tier warning system for severe weather, for the blizzard.

Rain and snow started to fall across most of Henan Province Monday night and several cities, including Zhengzhou and Luoyang, reported heavy snow.

The snowy weather also forced trains to run at slower speeds and the cancellation of bus services on the highways in the province.