Taiwan 7.2 Magnitude Earthquake... Flight Delays at Japan Okinawa

Tsunami Warning Issued in Okinawa, Japan
Morning Departures Delayed by 1-2 Hours
Flights Between Taiwan and Okinawa Operating Normally

A magnitude 7.2 earthquake that occurred in the waters around Taiwan has triggered a tsunami warning in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, causing delays in flights to and from Naha International Airport in Okinawa. Flights to and from Taiwan are operating normally.

According to Korean Air on the 3rd, flight KE755 from Incheon to Okinawa, scheduled to depart at 9:10 a.m., was delayed by about three hours due to worsening local weather conditions and departed at 11:58 a.m.

According to Korean Air (003490), flight KE755 from Incheon to Okinawa, originally scheduled to depart at 9:10 a.m., departed at 11:58 a.m. due to deteriorating weather and arrived at 2:33 p.m. Flight KE756 from Okinawa to Incheon, scheduled to depart at 12:50 p.m., is now expected to depart at 3:20 p.m. that day.

Asiana Airlines flight OZ172 from Incheon to Okinawa was delayed by about two and a half hours and departed at 12:49 p.m. Jin Air’s flight LJ371 from Busan to Okinawa departed at 8:05 a.m. but returned to Busan due to the tsunami warning in Okinawa. It departed again around 1:07 p.m. Flight LJ341 from Incheon to Okinawa was delayed by one hour and departed at 11:51 a.m. Flight LJ342 returning from Okinawa to Incheon is also expected to be delayed by about an hour.

For Jeju Air, flight 7C1802 departing from Incheon to Okinawa at 1:30 p.m. was delayed by 30 minutes and departed at 2:07 p.m. T’way Air flight TW271, scheduled to depart at 11:15 a.m., was delayed by two hours and departed at 1:15 p.m. Flight TW272 returning from Okinawa was rescheduled from 2:40 p.m. to 4:10 p.m.

An airline official explained, "Naha International Airport in Okinawa is located near the coast and operates domestic flights within Japan as well, causing bottlenecks and consecutive delays," adding, "Flights to and from Taiwan are operating normally."

Meanwhile, at 7:58 a.m. local time, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck off the east coast of Taiwan. Around 8:58 a.m., a magnitude 4 earthquake occurred on Yonaguni Island in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. As a result, tsunami warnings were issued for Yonaguni Island and Miyako Island due to the possibility of a tsunami up to 3 meters high.