South Korea, Japan grapple with heavy snow; Chaos, delay at airports
Thousands of travelers swarmed a small airport in South Korea's Jeju island on Wednesday in a scramble to get on flights following delays by snowstorms as frigid winter weather gripped East Asia for the second straight day.
Officials at South Korea's Ministry of the Interior and Safety didn't immediately report any major damage or injuries from subzero temperatures and icy conditions that have affected most of the country since Tuesday.
But at least eight roads and 10 sea routes remained closed as of Wednesday afternoon. About 140 homes in capital Seoul and nearby regions reported busted water pressure pumps or pipes as temperatures dipped to around minus 15 to minus 20 degrees Celsius (5 degrees to minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit) across the mainland.
In Japan, heavy snow and record cold temperatures also brought widespread disruptions.
At least one person has died and two more deaths were being investigated in connection with the cold weather, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno