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A typhoon that ravaged Japan, killing 11 people and injuring hundreds, has damaged the third largest airport in the country so much that it could be closed for at least a week, officials said Wednesday.
With the storm now heading offshore as a low-pressure system, the long-term effects on business and tourism are a major concern.
Referring to the damaged airport, Akira Yoshimura, a head of the economic research division of MUFG Bank, said: "If Kansai Airport does not open for a long time, it could have a impact not only on the economy of Osaka but in all. to a certain extent, "according to comments made by the Japanese broadcaster NHK.
An unmoored tanker also crashed on the only bridge between the airport and the mainland, leaving around 3,000 people stranded and forcing them to evacuate. A tugboat towed the tanker Wednesday, reported the Kyodo News agency, revealing a severed road on the south side of the 12,000-foot bridge.
The damage to the airport, which is on an artificial island, means it could be shut down for a week at Kyodo. have quoted officials as saying.
Cathay Pacific, one of Asia's largest full-service carriers, said on Wednesday it had canceled all services to and from Osaka until 10 September inclusive.
"The safety of our passengers and crew is always our top priority and we sincerely appreciate the patience and understanding of our customers right now," said Patrick Yu, General Manager of Airport Service Delivery.
Kansai International is the closest airport to Kyoto, the former capital of Japan and a world-renowned tourist attraction, as well as a major gateway for travelers arriving from China and Asia to Japan. The airport says it receives about 25 million people a year.
Universal Studios Japan, located in Osaka, was closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, the first time since two consecutive days since opening in 2001, Kyodo reported. The company owning the tourist attraction said on its website that it would reopen on Thursday.
The Mainichi, an English-language newspaper in Japan, said travel agencies had canceled scheduled tours this week from the airport.
"The impact of closing the airport is important," said a KNT Kansai travel agency official, quoted by the newspaper.
Nearly 16 million foreign tourists visited Japan in the first half of 2018, according to data released by Japan's National Tourism Organization.
Kansai International also manages tens of billions of dollars a year in imports and exports and serves the neighboring cities of Osaka and Kobe, which have more than four million inhabitants.
On Wednesday, local media raised concerns about the effects of the storm on business in western Ontario. supply chains from retail to restaurants. Japan Post reportedly used other airports for mail delivery, and other companies were looking for similar logistical solutions.
Follow Mike Ives on Twitter: @mikeives.
Makiko Inoue and Motoko Rich contributed to the report.
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