Han Ximin

    ximhan@126.com

    THE Shenzhen airport yesterday morning issued a red alert, the highest-level alert, for massive flight delays due to rainstorms.

    By 5 p.m. yesterday, more than 250 flights were canceled and 8,000 passengers were provided with free accommodation.

    Another 60 flights were delayed for more than one hour, the Shenzhen International Airport said.

    The alert was lowered to orange at 5 p.m. yesterday.

    The airport has a four-tier warning system for flight delays, with red being the most serious, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

    The airport reminded travelers to check flight information before heading to the airport and airline companies are advised to inform travelers about cancellation in advance to reduce the number of passengers stranded at the airport.

    Shenzhen Airlines was forced to cancel 50 flights heading for and out of Guangzhou and Shenzhen airports yesterday. By 10:30 a.m., China Southern Airlines canceled 57 flights at the Shenzhen airport.

    The Shenzhen Meteorological Observatory said Shenzhen entered flood season in March this year, one or two weeks earlier than in previous years.

    The weather will be rainy with low visibility this week and thunderstorms will affect the city tomorrow and Thursday. The weather will be clear and dry Saturday and Sunday.

    The national meteorological authority Sunday maintained a blue alert, the lowest level, for rainstorms in southern parts of the country.

    The Pearl River Delta area is expected to see heavy rain until tomorrow.

    Guangdong’s disaster emergency management office raised the alert level for natural disaster to Level 3 at 8 a.m. yesterday.